Just when you thought spring was here, unusually frigid temperatures paired with blistering wind chills are forcing many locals into hibernation.
“It’s brutally cold,” said Jim Steele, with Environment Canada. “This is highly unusual.”
Residents have been braving temperatures well below freezing, and well below normal, which are aggravated with a wind chill.
Thursday evening was likely the worst of it as the mercury was expected to drop down to -18 Celsius.
“You’re going to be record or near record overnight,” said Steele Thursday as normals for this time of year should be around highs of 5 C and lows of -2 C.
The cold has even put a chill on fun up at Silver Star Mountain Resort.
The cold Arctic air mass has forced the Star to look at cutting back night skiing Friday and Saturday to include only the Discovery Carpet and Silver Queen chair.
“Skiers and snow boarders would normally spend 12 to 14 minutes riding the Summit Chair to the top of the mountain and any extended period of lift stoppage would see people getting extremely cold in a very short period of time,” said Brad Baker, operations manager.
If temperatures don’t end up dipping below -15 overnight, skiing will operate as normal.
“It’s such a popular local program and we are excited by the participation again this year, but putting people’s safety first is a priority,” said Baker.
“In this instance it’s a matter of keeping them out of harm’s way.”
But the chill is expected to ease up early next week, after it brings in some weekend snow.
Periods of snow are expected Saturday with a high of -2, low of -14. Sunday calls for flurries with temperatures around freezing.
“Without the wind it might be a little more bearable,” said Steele.
Many residents have given up on the groundhog’s prediction for an early spring, especially after last year’s mild winter.
“Last year in February, we had a non winter with no snow,” said Steele, adding that there is still hope for spring to come our way.