Extreme cold warning issued as polar vortex plunges Waterloo region and area into deep freeze this week
'Temperatures may be colder than those that have been seen the last several years,' Environment Canada says
A polar vortex will plunge Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington County into a deep freeze until Wednesday, Environment Canada says.
On Monday morning, the federal weather agency issued an extreme cold warning that will last until at least Tuesday morning.
"An Arctic airmass will bring bitterly cold wind chills to the area early this week," the warning said.
"Be prepared for very cold conditions. Temperatures may be colder than those that have been seen the last several years," the agency also noted.
Environment Canada warned frostbite can develop within minutes and people should keep dry to stay warmer.
"If it's too cold for you to stay outside, it's too cold for your pet to stay outside. Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks to warm up," the warning said.
There is also a winter weather advisory in effect on Monday for Mount Forest, Arthur and northern Wellington County with up to 5 cm of snow expected and there could be reduced visibility at times due to snow.
The temperatures are expected to remain quite cold for the first half of the week:
- Monday: Sunshine with a chance of flurries. High of –13 C, wind chill near –26 C. Overnight, the low will be –18 C, wind chill making it feel close to –28 C.
- Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud. High of –15 C, wind chill near –28 C.
- Wednesday: Cloudy with a chance of flurries. High –13 C.
Thursday, there will be a slight warm-up to a high of –7 C.
Steven Flisfeder, a warning preparedness meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, says it still won't quite reach the average high for this time of year, which is –3 C, "but relative to the days prior, it's going to definitely feel like a warm up."
Temperatures started to drop over the weekend and Flisfeder says people should be prepared for a prolonged period of very cold temperatures as a polar vortex settles over the area.
He said a polar vortex is an area of very cold temperatures that originate in the Arctic.
"It's always present throughout the year, but it becomes a bit more pronounced through the winter. And depending on how the air flow streams are forecasted to flow, it can sometimes be pulled as far south as Ontario, sometimes even farther south," he said.
"If you expect to be outside for any period of time, you should really be thinking about bundling up, wearing layers, wearing hats, mitts, scarves, anything you can think of to protect exposed skin," Flisfeder added.
"If you can limit your time outside or outdoors, that's even better. The longer you're outside, the longer the exposure and the higher the risk."
Environment and Climate Change Canada will issue an extreme cold warning when the temperature or wind chill hits –30 C or lower.
The Region of Waterloo will also issue an extreme cold warning when the temperature or wind chill is expected to reach –30° C for at least two hours.
The region's website has a list of warming centres where people can go if needed. A new overnight warming space also opened in Kitchener on Friday at 298 Lawrence Ave. It is being run by the region and Thresholds Supports, a non-profit mental health and housing provider. It will be open daily from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.