City officials have issued an extreme cold weather advisory for the second time this week, as very cold temperatures are forecast for Friday night.
Temperatures will drop to a low of -20 C tonight evening and early Saturday morning, according to Environment Canada, with wind chill values reaching -30. The National Weather Service has issued a warning that the weather conditions on Friday could result in frostbite.
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued an extreme cold weather advisory Friday morning in anticipation of the frigid weather anticipated for the next 24 hours. The warning will continue to be in effect until further notice.
It follows the one issued by the city on Monday, when the wind chill made the temperature feel like -20 C.
Extreme cold weather alerts are typically issued when temperatures are forecast to reach -15 C or colder or when the wind chill is forecast to reach -20 C or colder. Other weather-related factors may also be considered.
The alert prompted the city to open its warming centres at 129 Peter St., 5800 Yonge St. and at the Exhibition Place, Better Living Centre at 195 Princes’ Blvd.
A fourth warming centre also opened Friday evening at 1684 Queen Street East.
Warming centres usually stay open until noon on the day an alert is terminated.
The city also opened emergency 24-hour respite sites at two community centres Friday afternoon.
The sites at Warden Hilltop Community Centre (25 Mendelssohn St.) and Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre (220 Cowan Ave.) will provide 89 physically distanced spaces to the those experiencing homelessness who are struggling to find a warm and safe place to stay, the city said.
“Although temporary, spaces at these locations will continue to operate until further notice,” the city said.
Frigid temperatures are expected to stay this weekend. On Saturday, it will be mainly sunny with only a high of -12 C and a wind chill of -18 in the afternoon.
The low will be -13 C with a wind chill of -19. It will also be sunny on Sunday, with the temperature reaching a high of -5 C.
Snow is in the forecast on Monday as Ontario students return to in-person learning. The high will be -4 C.
Source_ globalnews.ca
