It’s been a record breaking day in the weather department for several communities across Ontario.
Environment Canada registered a record breaking -30 C in Barrie on Monday making it the coldest Feb. 16 ever registered for the city. The former record of -26.5 C was set back in 1987.
Barrie was not alone. In Muskoka, the previous 1963 record of -34.4 C was broken, as temperatures dropped to -35.4 C. Wiarton posted a new record of -34.3 C, shattering the previous Feb. 16 record of -25.6 C set in 2014.
The weather authority issued an extreme cold weather warning for most of the province over the weekend. They have since lifted it.
So what are the health risks when temperatures get this extreme? According to Dr. Ihab Khalil of Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, frostbite can set in with little warning.
“I think within a few seconds to minutes can cause frostbite, especially in the face,” says Khalil.
He says it starts with numbness and can lead to blisters, then red spots and even black spots. If your skin turns black seek medical attention immediately. Another concern is hypothermia and if you get wet at all, you should get inside and dry off.
Runners should also be cautious. Khalil says it can be dangerous breathing in hard and heavy in really cold weather. He recommends covering up your mouth when breathing in the extreme cold.
Weather records in Barrie have only been registered since 1973.
