After a long week of bitter cold temperatures ranging between minus 20 and minus 40 degrees across much of Alberta, there is some hope in the forecast.

Cochrane and the surrounding areas have been under an extreme cold warning which was issued by Environment Canada late last week. The frigid temperatures have resulted in many weather-related ailments including energy alerts being issued, school closures, elevated carbon monoxide exposures and it was even too cold for the penguins at the Calgary Zoo to be outside. 

Dan Kulak is a meteorologist with Environment Canada and he says that the worst of this deep freeze is behind us. He says "The coldest of the cold is behind us. We're moving into a bit of a moderating pattern. It will still be pretty cool over the next couple of days here; looking at highs in the mid minus 20 range and lows in the minus '30s but this weekend we are looking to a warm-up."

Despite the drastic temperatures this week, Kulak says we didn't break any records here in Cochrane. Today's high is forecasted to reach minus 26 and by Monday Kulak says we could be seeing temperatures on the plus side