Hamilton blows away 50-year-old cold record

Hamilton shattered a decades-old cold weather record on Monday, as temperatures plummeted below –23 C with a wind chill of –31 C.

The previous low, set back on this date in 1965, was –17.8 C. Temperatures have been recorded at the Hamilton airport since 1960.

For anyone with some morbid curiosity, the record high on Feb. 23 was 14.3 C set back in 1984.

The city remains under an extreme cold warning as bitterly cold arctic air has yet again swept into southern Ontario on Monday.

“People planning to be outdoors should dress appropriately and exercise caution.” Environment Canada said in an alert. “Exposed skin may freeze in as little as 10 minutes.”

Wind chills will slowly improve somewhat in the afternoon as temperatures rise for a few hours, Environment Canada says.

But it won’t last. Wind chills in many areas will slump back down to near –30 C overnight.

Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frostbite and hypothermia.

Here are some tips on how to dress for this frigid weather from Environment Canada:

• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Always wear clothing appropriate for the weather. Synthetic and wool fabrics provide better insulation. Some synthetic fabrics are designed to keep perspiration away from your body which keep you dry and further reduce your risk.
• Dress in layers with a wind resistant outer layer. You can remove layers if you get too warm (before you start sweating) or add a layer if you get cold.
• Wear warm socks, gloves, a hat and scarf in cold weather. Be sure to cover your nose to protect it.
• If you get wet, change into dry clothing as soon as possible. You lose heat faster when you're wet.