Temperatures in B.C. are plummeting Wednesday due to an Arctic airflow.
As temperatures drop lower and lower, Environment Canada has issued 32 extreme cold weather and a dozen Arctic outflow warnings for the province, spanning from the East Kootenays in southeast B.C. to the North Coast and beyond.
For B.C.’s South Coast, an Artic outflow warning is in effect for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler, the Southern Gulf Islands and Greater Victoria.
Temperatures are expected to drop with wind chill to around -25 and can even drop as low as -30 in some areas.
“An Arctic front has brought in a cold airmass to the south coast,” Environment Canada staff said.
“Strong outflow winds are bringing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal normals resulting in wind chill values approaching minus 20 to minus 30 over the Lower Mainland.”
The warning is expected to last through Thursday.
For almost all the regions in B.C.’s Interior, including the Okanagan Valley, an extreme cold warning is in effect.
Other regions under the extreme cold warning include Elk Valley, East Kootenay — North including Invermere, East Columbia, Yoho Park — Kootenay Park, North Columbia, Kinbasket, North and South Thompson, Shuswap, Fraser Canyon and Similkameen.
With wind chill, temperatures are expected to drop to near -40 for Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures gradually rising on Thursday and Friday.
The government weather agency reminds everyone to stay warm and to watch for cold-related symptoms such as shortness of breath, numbness and colour change in skin.
Extreme cold can be deadly, especially for those experiencing homelessness.
The City of Vancouver has opened additional shelter spaces and warming centres that will stay open until at least Thursday.
For a full list of those available spaces, check out the City of Vancouver’s Twitter page or its website.
The Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver says it’s trying to keep people warm and safe, but, due to the immense size of Vancouver’s homeless population, it’s extremely difficult to take care of everyone.
“Right now, we know that folks who do not have adequate shelter spaces are in serious danger,“ said Nicole Mucci, a Union Gospel Mission spokesperson.
“Each person has a story and a unique set of circumstances and sometimes that means they can’t stay at a shelter or warming centre. What’s important is to make sure those people have what they need to stay safe during these extreme cold spells.”
Mucci said there’s also a heightened risk of tent fires as people do what they can to stay warm while living in encampments.
While the Gospel Mission is helping those experiencing homelessness, Mucci said the long-term goal is to move those on the street into safe and adequate housing.
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