Get ready for an intense bout of winter.
A snow squall watch and extreme cold weather advisory is in effect for the region for Thursday afternoon, as we’re expecting heavy wind and 2 to 4 cm of snow. And then a deep freeze starts overnight. The high tomorrow is expected to be in the minus twenties and in the early morning, with the windchill, it will feel like -40C.
But the good news, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder, is that the cold front is moving quickly and the extreme temperatures won’t last long.
“Tomorrow (Friday) is definitely going to be the coldest day of the year, at least so far,” he says. “Day time highs are going to get only up to the -20C to -25C range.
“It’s going to persist through Saturday morning and temperatures will moderate somewhat through the day Saturday. By Sunday a much warmer air mass is going to come through the area and you’ll barely remember the cold at that point.”
However, on Friday the cold will be so extreme that people not bundled up will be at risk of frostbite within minutes. Flisfeder says people should limit their time outside and if you do have to go out, layer up.
No Warming Centre in MV
Madawasky Valley officials say their municipality does not have a Warming Centre for people to go to, if they need a public place to stay warm during extreme cold.
However, the Township has an emergency management co-ordinator, who has the authority to open one, if the region is experiencing power outages or if there’s high demand for one.
Groundhogs predictions
This news comes on Groundhog’s Day — and according to Canada’s groundhog prognosticators, when winter will end may just come down to where you live.
During Groundhog festivities in southern Ontario Thursday morning, Wiarton Willie came out of his burrow and did not see his shadow. According to folklore that means an early end to winter.
But in Nova Scotia Shubenacadie Sam saw her shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter.
In Manitoba, Merv was the tie breaker and called for six more weeks of winter.