Environment Canada has issued a wind chill warning for London and Middlesex County and surrounding areas as the health unit issues the second cold weather alert of the year.
The warning was issued Monday by Environment Canada, as wind chills are forecast to dip below -35 C to -40 C by Tuesday morning.
The weather agency is cautioning residents who may be headed outside. They say exposed skin may freeze in less than five minutes.
Meanwhile the Middlesex-London Health Unit has issued the second cold weather alert, which continues until Thursday, although wind chills are expected to start improving Tuesday afternoon.
“When you combine the very cold temperatures we’re expecting over the next few days with high wind chill values, the result is conditions that can have dramatic effects on health,” said Iqbal Kalsi, environmental health manager at the health unit.
“If you’re not dressed for the conditions and if you don’t limit your time outdoors, and this goes for people and animals alike, exposed skin can freeze within a few minutes and frostbite and hypothermia can set in quickly.”
Blizzard warnings for midwestern Ontario
Environment Canada also issued a blizzard warning for Huron-Perth, Grey-Bruce and Waterloo-Wellington through Monday night and into Tuesday.
Forecasters say strengthening westerly winds are quickly blasting in bitterly cold Arctic air and frequent, strong snow squalls are intensifying over Huron and Georgian Bay and inland.
Many of the snow squalls are expected to extend quite far inland as the winds become quite strong and gusty.
Local snowfall amounts of 15 to 30 centimetres are quite possible in snow squalls by Tuesday morning.
The squalls, combined with extreme wind chills, could produce frequent blizzard conditions bringing very low to zero visibility with whiteout conditions.
The blizzard conditions will slowly ease somewhat on Tuesday although the snow squalls and blowing snow are likely to continue in many areas.
All the latest watches and warnings are available at: london.ctvnews.ca/weather
