'Extreme cold weather' warning for Ottawa area, Skateway unlikely to open by weekend

© Provided by Ottawa Citizen A media preview was held on Thursday to view the Snowflake Kingdom Thursday at 250 rue Laurier in Gatineau. Artist Francis Aube, from Quebec City, works on a snow sculpture at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. Preparations are under way prior to opening day of Winterlude, which begins this weekend.

An extreme cold warning was issued for Ottawa and much of eastern Ontario with a “blast of cold Arctic air” expected Thursday night.

On top of that, another Environment Canada alert issued in early evening projected a snow squall, with periods of brief, but intense snowfall and reduced visible expected.

Similar warnings were in effect for Gatineau and the Outaouais.

With the arrival of a strong cold front, wind-chill values of -40 to -45 were expected for Thursday night and early Friday, Environment and Climate Change Canada said. Wind chills were expected to moderate Friday, then reach near -40 Friday night into Saturday morning.

If heading out, dress in layers with the outer layer windproof and cover up — frostbite can happen within minutes on exposed skin — and keep pets indoors.

Ottawa Public Health issued a frostbite warning for Thursday night and continuing until further notice with wind chills expected to fall fast by evening.

“Stay safe, Ottawa,” OPH said, sharing cold weather tips .

Friday’s forecast high is -26 C with a wind chill near -42 under mainly sunny skies. Friday night’s low is expected to hit -27 C.

As of Thursday, the National Capital Commission tweeted. “we’ve officially surpassed our record for latest opening date” on the Rideau Canal Skateway.

“Our previous latest opening date was February 2, 2002. The extreme cold is helping, but not quite enough to build the ice thickness needed to open the Skateway for the 1st weekend of Winterlude.

“Our teams are taking full advantage of the cold weather to safely open a section of the Skateway! Flooding the ice continues tonight.”

Expect sunshine Saturday and a 60 per cent chance of flurries Saturday night. The forecast high — and low — is -17 C.

The cold temperatures will certainly put the winter in Winterlude, which was to get underway Friday and run through Feb. 20. The capital region’s signature celebration of of the season returns with in-person fun making a comeback after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Temperatures are expected to rebound to 1 C Sunday with a 70-per-=cent chance of snow. There’s a 40-per-cent chance of flurries Sunday night with a forecast low of -15 C.

“Normals” for this time of year are highs of -5 C and lows of -15 C.

© Tony Caldwell A media preview was held to view the Snowflake Kingdom Thursday at 250 rue Laurier in Gatineau. Preparations are still being made for opening day of Winterlude which is being held this weekend. Artist Reinaldo Nino, from Venezuela, works on a snow sculpture at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Thursday.      

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