Extreme cold to continue into Wednesday

The bitter cold has prompted Environment Canada to issue an extreme cold warning.

Arctic air moved into southwestern Ontario on Monday and the agency said there likely wouldn’t be a break from the deep freeze until Wednesday.

Forecast for Waterloo Region

Environment Canada said Monday’s daytime high was -13 Celsius but, with the windchill, it felt closer to -27 Celsius. Overnight, the agency predicted a low of -17 Celsius but feeling like -27 Celsius, along with wind gusts of between 30 km/h and 50 km/h.

On Tuesday, the daytime high was expected to hit -15 Celsius or -27 Celsius with the windchill. The overnight low could drop to -21 Celsius or -30 Celsius with the windchill.

Wednesday’s forecast showed a high of -13 Celsius and low of -15 Celsius, while Thursday’s high could climb to -8 Celsius and fall to -17 Celsius overnight.

Flurries are expected to continue throughout the week.

Frostbite warning

The frigid temperatures have also raised concerns about frostbite.

“[It’s] very dangerous,” explained Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada. “You have to be very, very careful.”

Extreme cold weather can cause serious symptoms, like shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes.

Anyone heading outside is urged to dress in warm layers and keep their pets indoors.

Seeking shelter

Advocates for the unhoused are also working hard to make sure everyone is safe amid a shortage of shelter spaces in Waterloo Region.

“People have been struggling,” said Joe Mancini, director of The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen, where they see up to 400 people come in everyday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Once it closes, however, visitors have to find other accommodations.

On Friday, the region’s first overnight warming centre opened its doors on Lawrence Avenue. It can take in up to 20 people every night, or possibly 30 people when the temperature drops.

“The last thing we want to do is turn anyone away,” said Eric Philip, CEO of Thresholds Homes and Supports, a non-for-profit organization providing a range of services in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. “You always need to prioritize risk and the environment and the individuals within the space.”

The new warming centre has not yet reached capacity but that’s soon expected to change.

“Anyone who steps outside, who’s not properly dressed, feels that cold immediately, especially with the windchill,” Philip said.

Mancini also knows risks and the consequences.

“We had someone have an amputation last week because of frostbite,” he told CTV News on Monday.

The region has plans to add overnight shelter spaces in Cambridge. They’ve partnered with Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services to open a warming centre at Wesley United Church.

“I think it’s going to be significant in our plan to end chronic homelessness,” regional councillor Jim Erb said.

It’s unclear, however, when the new warming centre will officially open. Erb predicts it will happen sometime in the next two weeks.

Funding is also available for additional warming centres, to the relief of advocates.

“The more spaces we can have across the region is fantastic,” Philip said.

The region told CTV News that outreach staff are working with those needing a warm place to stay overnight, as well as providing additional beds and winter supplies to their shelter partners.