TORONTO – The City of Toronto cancelled the extreme cold weather alert, Friday. The alert was issued on Monday.
An alert is issued with Environment Canada forecasts an overnight temperature of -15 C or lower, without wind chill.
The cold snap gripped Toronto and the GTA for most of this week.
With the wind chill, it felt as cold as -24 C in some parts of the GTA on Wednesday, making it the coldest day in the region so far this year.
Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips said Torontonians were spoiled by a balmy winter last year.
This year, Phillips said, the early part of winter “was missing in action.”
“Then we had 17, 18 days in a row with a January thaw,” he said.
“I think we were seduced into thinking that winter wasn’t possible anymore.”
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Phillips said predictions for February show warmer than average temperatures but warned not to rule out a cold snap.
An extreme cold weather alert remains in effect for the City of Toronto for the third consecutive day.
But temperatures are forecast to increase as the weekend approaches.
An extreme cold weather alert is called to trigger additional homelessness services. Alerts are typically called in the morning for the coming overnight period so that community agencies have sufficient time to call in extra staff to provide enhanced services.
Among other reasons, extreme cold weather alerts are issued when Environment Canada predicts a coming overnight temperature of -15 C or lower without the wind chill.
On Tuesday, Toronto dealt with more than just the cold weather. Drivers and pedestrians were also faced with lake-effect snow.
As of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, the CAA had already received 2,000 calls, the majority for dead car batteries.
“Typically on a winter day, on an average day, we get about 2,500 calls. On a day where we get a snowstorm or extreme cold temperatures, that number usually doubles, so we usually see about 5,000 or more calls,” the agency’s Silvana Aceto said, adding that drivers need to be extra vigilant in cold, snowy weather.
“Since we are in the midst of winter, that we can see extreme temperature swings as well as snow bands and poor visibility, so drivers really need to slow down in that snow. I can’t stress that enough.”
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I work with The Urban Survival information net work http://theurbansurvivor.org/ there are many reasons people are homeless, but no good reason why they should be in a land of so much. You can’t punish people whom are already being punished. It’s not so black and white as tio why some people can live and thrive , and others can’t.
It’s cold??? Then why haven’t i been needing to wear a jacket when I go outside at all this year?? Weird. I think you are all just wimps!
I can’t believe that even my windshield cracked this morning, 3 feet long after I washed it with windshield fluid.
I have been liveing on the street for 10 years now while i wait for sub housing my applications been in 8 years now ,i will not stay in one of them shelters ,id rather freeze to death ,,this morn when i woke up my dentures were frozzzzzz in a 2 in block of ice,,,now thats cold,,,
You hit the nail right on the head. City of Toronto = bunch of wimps and whiners. It’s winter people. Deal with it.
I can’t believe people like you are posting such nonsense!! it is MINUS 21 degrees outside right now!! Think of the people who don’t have a home to live in!! No place to go but the cold streets!! That is why the alert is issued. I can’t believe 680News would post such ignorant comments as the one you submitted.
@ Brent
Have you check how much money is slated for the Homeless?
If you think it is cold outside, all bundled up, in transit for an hour, try spending all day outside without sufficient coverings — and when you succeed at that, wait ’til the sun goes down, and it really cools off!!!
How is it we have more money for fire fighters, for parking enforcement, for covering all the “important” things in the city, but not enough to help those unable to cope, or succeed, ? Why is there money to build new condos, but not enough to renovate an older building to give shelter to the unfortunates? Why does Toronto have to be a city of haves, and have nots?
the unfortunate? its their own doing. you can get a minimum wage job anywhere,and pay for your own shelter. i dont have sympathy for these folks. this is canada, not some 3rd world country.
It is ludicrous that Toronto has a huge homeless and low income problem, and rather than address it, they are worried about whether they should have a casino, and where they would put it, which in itself would exacerbate the problem. If you think it is cold outside, all bundled up, in transit for an hour, try spending all day outside without sufficient coverings — and when you succeed at that, wait ’til the sun goes down, and it really cools off!!!
It is hard to believe with so many homeless people, and poor people that suffer in times of extreme cold (as well as all the other times) that the city focuses on whether we should have a casino, and where it should be located. We should look after our own problems first.
For people with coats, hats, gloves and a place to spend their day (and night) it isn’t so bad. For those that don’t, it is a dire situation. The alert is (as the article states) a means to trigger extra services for those that need the extra support in colder temperatures.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!! City of Toronto = bunch of sucks!!!
Id like to see you spend a night under my bridge on dundas street,,,where i been staying for a few years and see if you make it ,,and than say we are a bunch of sucks ,,you prob live at home with mom and dad in nice big house in richmond hill or somthing ,,,,,,
Why are you so bitter about Torontonians?