GTA Shivers Through Coldest Day Of The Winter
Posted February 5, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
When it comes to this kind of weather, it somehow seems like there ought to be a better word than just ‘cold’.
The kinds of conditions the GTA is experiencing this week go beyond just cold and all the phrases you can associate with it, like ‘bitter’, frigid’ and ‘bone chilling’.
It started on the weekend but got even worse on Monday, when morning wind chills reached a stunning -30C.
Environment Canada had called an unusual wind chill warning for most of the province, but cancelled it in the afternoon when the breezes died down and the temperatures improved – but only just a little bit.
There are still snow-squall alerts for areas near Lake Huron and Georgian Bay with about 15 to 30 centimetres of lake-effect snow forecast.
Resulting poor visibility led to some roads being closed in Bruce, Grey, and northern Perth, Huron and Wellington counties.
According to Sgt. Bruce Pritchard of the Orillia OPP, there have been plenty of cars in the ditch. Most were minor mishaps.
But one accident, on Highway 89 just west of the 400, was a head on collision that left the drivers of a pickup and a car headed to hospital with serious injuries.
But you don’t have to actually be in your car to be in danger. Police are warning vehicle owners about the dangers of ‘warm-up thefts.’
Thieves can swipe your car right off your driveway if you go outside to get it warm, then head back in to wait where there’s heat.
A family in Oakville found that out to their dismay Monday, when a child strapped into a van seat disappeared after his mother went back inside to retrieve something she forgot. For more on how this dramatic incident ended, click here.
Temperatures in the GTA are expected to hover around -10C all week, but with the winds it could feel much colder than that.
Extra beds are opened up for the homeless when bitter cold lingers, and anyone who sees someone in need can call 1-866-392-3777 at any time, day or night.
But for some, the real problem wasn’t so much surviving the cold as simply getting going in it.
Dead batteries refused to turn over all over the G.T.A. providing a record number of pleas for help to the CAA.
At one point, 900 calls came in during a one hour period between 9am and 10am, leaving many motorists stranded in a cold garage – or worse – for over two hours.
Imtiaz Mia was one of those delayed what seemed like forever. “I tried for about 15 to 20 minutes, and until the battery just totally died on me,” he relates.
“Give yourself lots of time,” advises spokesperson Edyta Zdancewicz. “Drive slowly out there, and make sure that your car is in tip-top shape, so make sure that it’s getting its regular maintenance.
“It’s important with batteries. If you have a battery that’s anywhere between four to five years old, chances are you’re probably going to need to get a new one so make sure you get that checked out.”
She reminds members that if they have to call an alternate service to get a boost, the CAA will reimburse them for the charge.
Pets are also at risk in these extreme conditions, too – owners should consider keeping walks and outside exposure short.
Still, not all dogs are having a bad day.
“She doesn’t mind it at all. She loves it,” one half frozen pet owner proclaims as she walks her pooch down a wind-swept Toronto street. “She wants to go run in the park where it’s freezing cold and windy.”
And then there was this diehard from Edmonton, who acted like this was just another summer’s day. He was walking down one of the city’s windiest streets with no hat and no gloves.
When asked why, his reply was like the weather – brisk. “Well, I think it’s a good suggestion and maybe I should get myself some gloves,” he reasons.
Still, some people think this weather is – you should pardon the expression – a breath of fresh air. “I would rather this than a heat wave in the summer,” one woman contends.
That’s an attitude that may be enough to leave her in the cold.
Modest relief isn’t expected until at least Friday, but it may not last long. More frigid conditions are expected by next weekend.
For the latest forecast, click here.
To read Michael Kuss’s weather blog, click here.
Saving Your Car Battery
Your car battery in the cold is like that old TV game show – it is the weakest link.
If it says goodbye because of the weather, you’re left with no way to get your car started without a boost and potentially a long wait for service.
According to the American Automobile Association, your battery loses up to 60 percent of its strength when the temperature reaches the minus 18C mark. Even at just freezing, it’s 35 percent less effective.
What can you do on cold days to help keep the balance of power? Here are a few suggestions:
Block Heaters
Many people use a block heater to keep their batteries charged in the cold weather. It helps to keep the juice intact even at the lowest temperatures.
They’re not as common in the GTA, but in places like Calgary and other brutally cold climates, you’ll not only find them in every garage but often attached to parking meters and parking spots to ensure a vehicle will turn over when the owner comes out.
The Age
Batteries weaken with age, even if your car is supposed to charge them up every time you start it. Find out how old your is and if it’s between five and eight years, consider replacing it.
Check The Cables
If one becomes loose, it may seem like your battery’s dying when the fault really lies elsewhere. Check this first before replacing anything.
Load Tests
A mechanic can perform a load test, which will tell you how much juice your battery has left. If it fails, replace it before you get stuck somewhere.
Clean The Terminals
Sure you wash the car, but what about the connectors that keep the battery running? They can get dirty or corroded, affecting the life of your battery. Keeping them clean may help your car run longer.
Watch For Signs
There are sure indications your battery may be on its last power legs – including dimmer lights when you turn on the engine. There may also be an indicator light on your dashboard warning you of problems to come.
Wind Chill Warnings
It’s one of the most unusual caveats issued by Environment Canada – a wind chill warning. It only comes when temperatures are at such an extreme that tissue damage or even death is a real possibility for those outside for more than 10 minutes.
The GTA isn’t alone in experiencing these conditions. Ontario is deep in the grip of this winter whack and we’re sharing this bitter blast with a large number of U.S. states.
But did you know that what constitutes a wind chill warning for you doesn’t mean the same for people elsewhere in the province?
Environment Canada bases its rare caution solely on where you live. The agency explains that people get used to colder temperatures depending on their location. So it actually takes colder days than the kind we’re experiencing this week to get one called up north.
Here’s the breakdown of when a Wind Chill Warning is issued:
South Central & Southern Ontario (including Toronto and the GTA): Values are -30 or lower
Eastern and Northern Ontario: Values are -40 or lower
Far Northern Ontario: Values are -45 or lower
Danger Zones
-27C to -44: Frostbite and hypothermia risk increases with time spent outside.
-45 or lower: Exposed flesh freezes in minutes and hypothermia risk reaches crisis stage.
Wind Chill’s Worst
The coldest wind chill recorded in the city of Toronto over the last 30 years was an unbelievable -44. It happened on Jan. 4, 1981, when the temperature fell to -29.1C and the wind was gusting at 30 kilometres an hour.
But that’s nothing compared to the all time record wind chill recorded in Canada.
It was marked at Kugaaruk in what is now Nunavut, on January 13, 1975. The temperature that day was -51C and with a 56 kilometre an hour breeze, the wind chill was recorded as a deadly and almost unimaginable -78 degrees below.
How do they determine the wind chill?
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