Temperatures are taking a huge plunge in Prince George, cautioned Environment Canada’s warning preparedness meteorologist Armel Castellan.
“It will drop to minus 25 tonight, then drop into the mid 30’s and then mid-40s will be the lowest amount on Friday into Saturday," Castellan said. “Prince George will be in the realm of 20 and even 25 degrees below seasonal temperatures by the time we get to Friday and Saturday,” Castellan said.
The overnight low on Friday is predicted to be -44 C.
And then comes a windchill, he added.
“So the added cold will not be extreme, but already when you get down to those kinds of temperatures exposed skin will endure frost bite - and frost nip first – fairly quickly,” Castellan said.
Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite that irritates the skin, causing a change in skin colour and a cold feeling followed by numbness.
“We’ve been so consistently warm over the past season, not just a short period of time – and to see this anomaly of these extreme temperatures is going to be a shock physiologically even for those who have homes to go into," Castellan said. "So this is going to be requiring all manner of vigilance when it comes to protection – all parts of your body need to be covered and try not to be exposed for too long. There are extreme dangers when the temperatures are going to be so cold, especially when it’s been so warm. We have to adapt to this new regime - at least for a few days.”
