Get ready for a very cold week in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Global News meteorologist Mark Madryga says arctic air continues to blast out of the B.C. interior, and the Fraser Valley is feeling the brunt of it.
Because of an arctic air mass over the South Coast, the Fraser Valley is feeling wind chills of -18 C to -22 C, Madryga said Monday. It’s not quite as bad in Metro Vancouver because the wind is not as stiff, he said.
“The wind will continue through the morning, ease a bit later, but stay bitterly cold there through tomorrow,” he said Monday. “There is some relief in the really cold air, slightly, by mid-to-late week, but not much. A little snow by Thursday and Friday and then very cold this coming weekend all across the South Coast again.”
WATCH: Warming centres open across Metro Vancouver due to cold weather
Madryga said the windchill at the Abbotsford Airport reached -20 C overnight.
“That’s very uncommon,” he said. “Last time it was that wicked was December 2013 so it’s only every few years we feel that cold out in the Fraser Valley. And of course that windchill was a factor all across B.C.”
As of 2 p.m., BC Hydro was reporting 3,361 customers without electricity, with the bulk of the outages in the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack.
Some schools are closed in Abbotsford Monday due to power outages:
- Aberdeen Elementary
- King Traditional Elementary
- Matsqui Elementary
On Sunday, the City of Vancouver announced it was opening three warming centres through Wednesday. The West End Community Centre, the Brittania Community Centre, and the Powell Street Getaway will remain open all night for the homeless.
The Vancouver Public Library was also open as a warming centre Sunday.
The city activates its warming centres when temperatures dip to -5 C or if it feels that cold.
The city says about 300 temporary beds are available this year.
Anyone looking for more details about the shelter space, including availability, can call 211.
Surrey has also opened its warming centres at 10453 Whalley Boulevard, 13686 94A Avenue, 5337 180 Street, 10635 King George Boulevard, 13639 108 Avenue and 15262 Pacific Avenue.