‘Within minutes’: EMS warns of frostbite risk during Calgary cold snap

It's below normal temperatures for this time of year in Calgary, and the cold can increase the risk of frostbite, but there is a shift on the way.

Calgarians are facing a cold snap.

Temperatures plummeted well below seasonal on Monday, prompting warnings from health officials.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the daytime high for this time of year typically hovers around -2 C.

Currently, the city is grappling with highs near -20, while wind chills have made conditions feel closer to -32.

The extreme drop in temperature brings a significant risk of frostbite.

“Any exposed skin could undergo some type of frostbite or early stages of frostbite, usually within minutes,” said Adam Loria, EMS spokesperson.

Loria is urging residents to cover all exposed skin and find frequent opportunities to warm up indoors.

He said staying warm is also critical in preventing hypothermia.

“Any stumbling, mumbling, fumbling, acting inappropriate or incoherent could be some potentially early signs,” Loria said.

“Those need to be treated quite quickly by going into a warm area.”

The freeze has also forced the City of Calgary to shift its focus toward worker safety.

While the cold does not typically disrupt municipal systems, it poses a direct threat to those maintaining them.

“The cold weather doesn’t impact our infrastructure that much—what impacts us the most with the cold weather is our staff being able to be out there,” said Lee Dupras with the City of Calgary.

“We have processes for our staff to stay warm and give them opportunities to stay safe and ensure that they can be out there working for the public.”

Relief is on the horizon for those weary of the cold.

Current forecasts indicate a massive warm-up is expected to arrive on Sunday.