Cold weather forecast to finally loosen its icy grip on Calgary

Calgary's near record-breaking bout of cold weather is finally coming to an end.

Environment Canada's forecast for Calgary calls for a steady warming trend, from a high of 5 C on Friday, climbing a few degrees per day until it gets up to 8 C for a high on Tuesday.

"Finally, after the second coldest February that we've had as far back as our records go, and a below-normal first week of March, it looks like starting this weekend, temperatures will get back up to more normal for this time of year," said Environment Canada meteorologist Kyle Fougere.

• The last time it was anywhere close to this cold in Calgary in February was 1979

Chinook winds are expected to bring warm, dry air over the mountains and across the foothills into Calgary staring this weekend, Fougere said.

"It's been a very long time since we've been up to normal temperatures," he said.

A high of 3 C and a low of 9 C isthe normal range for March 7.

"I think after the February we just had in Calgary, getting back up to even just normal is going to feel so much warmerbecause we were about 11-degrees colder than normal for the month of February in Calgary," Fougeresaid.

Quickly melting snow can be a challenge for Calgary's60,000 storm catch basins. The city asksresidents toclear ice and snow that's blocking their storm drains to help keep the water flowing, if they can do so safely. Otherwise, people should call 311.

Not spring yet

But spring is still a way off, Fougere said, noting that Calgary can expect another four centimetresof snow over the next two days.

"We're not out of the woods yet for winter weather. March and April are actually, on average, the snowiest months for the Calgary area."

The agency's three-month seasonal forecast is calling for temperatures a bit below normal in March, April and May, partly due to the cold start to this month.