A period of extremely cold wind chills is expected in the Elk Valley and Kootenay and Yoho National Parks today (March 1), prompting Environment Canada to issue an Extreme Cold Warning.

“An arctic ridge of high pressure will build over the B.C. Interior today. The cold air in combination with strong northeasterly winds are expected to produce wind chill values near minus 35 in the Yoho Park – Kootenay Park and the Elk Valley regions tonight and Saturday morning,” Environment Canada alerted.

“Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant. Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.”

Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frostbite and hypothermia.

For those planning on being in or watching the Griz Days Parade on Saturday, March 2, bundle up. With winds up to 15 km/h, temperatures are anticipated to be about -21 C in the afternoon, warming up from the anticipated -36 in the morning, causing frostbite in minutes to exposed skin.

In the rest of the East Kootenay, temperatures are expected to be in the -17 to -25 C range, with risk of frostbite due to 20 km/h winds, along with a 70% chance of snow this evening (March 1).

e-KNOW

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