Home / Environment / Brace for Brutal Cold: Alert Issued for Southern Ontario
Brace for Brutal Cold: Alert Issued for Southern Ontario
12 Feb
Summary
- Cold alert issued for Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk regions.
- Temperatures expected to drop below -15 C with wind chill to -20.
- Vulnerable populations at high risk from freezing temperatures.
Grand Erie Public Health has activated a cold weather alert for the Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk areas, anticipating "very cold weather" starting Thursday. This notification is issued when temperatures are projected to fall below -15 C, or when wind chill values reach -20, conditions under which unprotected skin can freeze rapidly.
During this alert period, Grand Erie Public Health strongly advises residents to take precautions to prevent cold-related injuries like frostbite and hypothermia. Specific groups, including older adults, infants, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those experiencing homelessness, are identified as especially vulnerable to the extreme cold.
Emergency shelter services, such as SOAR Community Services, are operating with 24/7 intake available to assist those in immediate need of a warm, safe place. Some contracted service providers have also increased their drop-in capacity to offer additional spaces for people to seek refuge from the frigid weather.
