Extreme cold weather alert issued in Toronto with frigid week ahead
Posted January 30, 2023 8:54 am.
Last Updated January 30, 2023 12:11 pm.
Extra layers will be required this week as the GTA gets set to plunge into the deep freeze.
The City of Toronto has issued an extreme cold weather alert as frigid air takes hold. Daytimes highs will stay below zero and morning lows will be in the minus double digits for most of the week.
CityNews meteorologist Jill Taylor says things will be especially cold heading into the weekend with low temperatures well below -20.
“The actual morning low overnight Friday into Saturday morning will be -25 C,” Taylor says. “And that’s before you factor any wind into the picture.”
The guaranteed high for Monday is -2 C with the temperature dropping to around -10 C overnight.
Extreme cold weather alert has been issued by the city of Toronto. Cold air moving in this week‼️The city issues the alert to put their cold weather response plan into action. More info https://t.co/VkzqxYyPK6
— Jill Taylor (@JillTaylorCity) January 30, 2023
The alert issued by the city allows for warming centres to open. The three centres will open at 7 p.m. Monday night and walk-ins are accepted.
- Metro Hall – 55 John St.
- Mitchell Field Community Centre – 89 Church Ave.
- Scarborough Civic Centre – 150 Borough Dr.
Calls have been growing for the city to open more spaces in its warming centres this winter. Earlier this month, more than 1,000 faith leaders sent a letter to Mayor John Tory and city councillors, demanding an emergency meeting.
The Toronto Board of Health has passed a motion to review the use of emergency warming centres to address the effects of cold weather on those experiencing homelessness. The motion will now go to City Council for consideration at the next meeting on Feb. 7.
The city issues an alert whenever the Environment Canada forecasts a temperature of -15 C or colder, or a windchill of -20 or colder.
An alert can also be issued if the forecast includes factors that increase the impact of cold weather on health. These include precipitation, low daytime temperatures, or several days and nights of cold weather in a row.
