It’s a good news/bad news weekend for outdoor enthusiasts in the Capital.
The good news is that it’s cold.
The bad news is it’s getting colder.
The weather has finally cooperated to allow the entire 7.8 kilometre length of the Rideau Canal Skateway to be open, just in time for the third and final weekend of Winterlude.
But Environment Canada has issued an Extreme Cold Warning. Wind chill values are expected to be in the minus 35 to minus 40 range overnight Friday night into Saturday morning. Conditions will improve only marginally through the day on Saturday and then fall below minus 35 again on Saturday night.
Conditions are forecast to improve somewhat on Sunday, but will still be much colder than average.
That means anyone who wants to enjoy any outdoor activities needs to exercise caution. Dress in layers, including a wind resistant outer layer. And make sure to cover as much skin as possible.
Extreme cold warnings are issued when cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.
