Environment Canada has extended an extreme cold weather warning for much of central and midwestern Ontario.
The weather authority extended the warning on Thursday, as temperatures get set to drop to nearly -30 C with the wind chill. Officials say a cold front moving across the southern portion of the province is to blame.
Due to the risks involved with cold weather of this kind, Environment Canada has issued the extreme cold weather warning for the following communities:
- Barrie – Collingwood – Hillsdale
- Innisfil – New Tecumseth – Angus
- Huntsville - Baysville
- Blue Mountain
- Bracebridge – Gravenhurst
- Midland – Coldwater – Orr Lake
- Newmarket – Georgina – Northern York Region
- Orillia – Lagoon City – Washago
- Owen Sound – Blue Mountains – Northern Grey County
- Orangeville – Grand Valley – Southern Dufferin County
- Port Carling – Port Severn
- Parry Sound – Rosseau – Killbear Park
- Shelburne – Mansfield – Northern Dufferin County
Officials say this system will arrive in the region on Thursday and continue into Friday morning. In some areas, temperatures have the potential to dip between -35 C and -40 C with the wind chill. Areas in Grey and Bruce County are also under a snow squall warning.
Provincial police have closed several roadways because of whiteout conditions. In Clearview Township, OPP have closed Highway 26 at Klondike Park Road and County Road 10, as well as County Road 91 between Fairgrounds Road and 6th Line.
Environment Canada warns that these freezing temperatures can pose a serious health risk. In some cases, people exposed to the extreme cold for a long period of time can suffer from hypothermia and frost bite.
