B.C. extreme cold and arctic outflow warnings persist into Saturday

Intense freezing cold temperatures have persisted into Saturday across the province. Most of B.C. is under extreme cold and arctic outflow warnings. Environment Canada said the alerts are expected to last into Sunday, with temperatures feeling like 20 to 30 with wind chill in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, North and Central Coasts.

“B.C. will continue to see well below seasonal temperatures across the province this weekend,” Global BC’s Steph Florian, a weather specialist, said. “The arctic front slowly starts to depart and moderate outflow winds persist around coastal inlets into Sunday. Sub zero temperatures will persist into next week with the potential of snow late Tuesday.” In the Prince George, Cariboo, Chilcotin, McGregor, Williston, Yellowhead Highway Tete Jaune Cache to the Alberta Border and Yellowhead regions, temperatures are expected to feel between 40 and 45 with wind chill.

In the Nicola, South Thompson, Similkameen, Fraser Canyon South including Lytton areas temperatures are expected to feel like 35 with wind chill. Story continues below advertisement 2:22 Plunging temperatures in western Canada cause commuter chaos, excruciating cold In North Columbia, Kinbasket, East Columbia, East Kootenay, and Elk Valley, temperatures will feel like 35 to 50 with wind chill, according to Environment Canada.

Get the latest National news. Sent to your email, every day. As of noon on Saturday, no alerts are activated for the Okanagan regions, but according to the forecast, temperatures will be around 27 with wind chill and will drop to around 30 overnight. “Arctic air combined with strong outflow winds will generate wind chill values of – 20 to 30 across the coastal and inland sections of the north and central coast,” an alert said.

Trending Now Ancient ‘lost valley of cities’ found in Amazon rainforest WestJet cancels 191 flights in Canada due to extreme cold If adequate precautions are not taken outdoors, frostbite and hypothermia can occur within minutes. People who do go outside are being told to watch for symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness, or fingers and toes changing colour.

The risks are higher for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, those working outside and individuals without proper shelter. Story continues below advertisement Around B.C.’s South Coast, traffic was much better on Friday, compared to the bumper to bumper madness on Thursday afternoon and evening.

Routes like Highway 1 through the North Shore to Burnaby Lake slowed to a crawl, then roads turned icy. In Richmond, Highway 91 eastbound was closed for several hours due to a 17 car pileup on Thursday. Icy conditions were largely to blame, according to police. 0:35 Abandoned cars litter Metro Vancouver in wake of winter storm.