Wind chill could make temperatures feel as low as –50 C as Arctic air grips central, northern B.C.

Severe winter weather continues to affect British Columbia, with the federal weather forecaster issuing extreme cold warnings in more than a dozen areas in the province's central and northern regions.

Environment Canada says temperatures will dip between –30 C and –40 C in communities such as Fort Nelson, Prince George and Williams Lake starting Wednesday night.

Combined with northerly winds of up to 20 km/h, temperatures will feel as low as –45 C in many central areas of the province, and as cold as –50 C further north, the forecaster said.

"So, very, very cold wind chill and this is due to cold Arctic air," said Louis Kohanyi, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Coastal and inland sections of the North and Central Coast, including cities like Prince Rupert and Terrace, will experience wind chill that makes it feel like –30 C starting Wednesday.

"Extreme cold puts everyone at risk," Environment Canada said on its website.

B.C. Housing has a list on its website of extreme weather shelters that are open in cities like Prince George for people to stay warm.

The effects of the Arctic air moving across Yukon and northern B.C. is expected to last until Saturday morning, when temperatures will moderate.

'Frostbite can develop within minutes'

Environment Canada is asking people in the affected areas to be prepared and watch for cold-related symptoms such shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes.

"Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill," it said.

WATCH | Encampment residents prepare for bitter cold: 

Kelowna, B.C., tent encampment residents prepare for cold snap

11 months ago

Duration 2:29

As temperatures drop in the southern Interior, people living outside are struggling with the cold and a heavy dump of snow. CBC’s Brady Strachan spoke to some residents of one tent encampment in Kelowna, home to more than 200 people, about how they are preparing for the cold.

The warnings of cold weather in central and northern areas of the province follow stormy weather in the south on Tuesday that brought wind gusts of up to 100 km/h, surging waves and large amounts of snow inland.

Many of the warnings issued for that storm were rescinded by Wednesday, but snowfall warnings remain in place for the eastern Fraser Valley and southern Fraser Canyon; areas around Manning Park; and Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

Amid the snowy conditions, a bus carrying a Western Hockey League junior team slid off a highway in British Columbia's Interior, but the Seattle Thunderbids say no one was injured while on their way to Kelowna for a game.

Environment Canada also warned of a winter storm for the Coquihalla Highway that could bring up to 15 centimetres of snow on top of the amounts that have already fallen this week.

"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve," said the warning. "If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop."

Chill coming to South Coast

On Wednesday afternoon, Environment Canada released an arctic outflow warning from Thursday night to Saturday afternoon for Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria, Fraser Valley and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Kohanyi said the Arctic air will push south later this week and, together with outflow winds, will make some Lower Mainland areas feel unusually cold.

"The Arctic air will arrive on Thursday night and Friday," he said Wednesday morning. 

"We could expect those cold wind chill values approaching –20 C."

On Wednesday, the City of Vancouver sent out a public bulletin saying it would be preparing for the impending cold weather by brining and salting roadways and major pedestrian and bike routes, along with opening winter shelters.

"With freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow headed to Vancouver, the city is ready to help keep residents safe on streets, sidewalks and bikeways," it said.

"For those sheltering outside, the city and its partners have activated options for people to come indoors."

Metro Vancouver's transit authority, TransLink, said it is preparing transit services for the upcoming winter weather, including by spreading anti-icing solution on trolley wires and power rails, running trains overnight to prevent snow buildup and salting all walkways at transit stations. 

"Customers are encouraged to build extra travel time in their commute ... and use proper footwear to avoid slips and falls," read a TransLink statement. 

B.C.'s workplace regulator WorkSafeBC shared a warning for employers to conduct regular risk assessments to protect workers during changing weather conditions. 

A WorkSafeBC spokesperson said work-related vehicle accidents occur at a higher volume, on average, in November, December and January compared to any other three-month span.