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Environment Canada issued a number of weather advisories and warnings on Tuesday afternoon, saying much of the southern part of the province will get two to four centimetres of snow as stiff northwesterly winds move through, with frigid wind chill bringing a risk of frostbite on Wednesday.
In Regina, there will be periods of snow and blowing snow tonight, which Environment Canada says will be followed by temperatures rising to -7 C by morning before falling again to-17 C Wednesday afternoon.
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Wind chill in the Queen City will reach -29 C Wednesday afternoon and -42 C Wednesday night, meaning exposed skin can freeze in five to 10 minutes.
In Saskatoon, the snow will taper off overnight to flurries, with northwest winds gusting to 60 km/h. Blowing snow is forecast again for Wednesday, with wind chill expected to reach -40 C at night.
Prince Albert, Meadow Lake, Fort Qu’Appelle, Estevan, Humboldt, Weyburn, Martensville, Kindersley, The Battlefords, and Warman are all forecast to get wind chill values around or below -40 C Wednesday night.
What is wind chill?
Environment Canada’s wind chill index uses research from human volunteers and advanced computer technology to present a forecast representative of what people actually feel.
By equating the outdoor conditions to an equivalent temperature with no wind, the index represents the degree of “chill” that your skin senses. For example, if the wind chill is -20 C while the outside temperature is only -10 C, it means that your face will feel as cold as if it was a calm day (no wind) with a temperature of -20 C.
Environment Canada also provides a wind chill calculator on its website.
Wind chill values over -10 C and up to -27 C are considered moderate risk and bring the possibility of hypothermia and frostbite if outside for long periods without adequate protection, the weather agency says.
Wind chill values of up to -39 C are considered high risk and exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes, while values of -40 C to -47 C are very high risk, and exposed skin can freeze in five to 10 minutes.
If wind chill reaches -48 C to -54 C it carries a severe risk, with exposed skin able to freeze in
two to five minutes, above -55 C and colder the risk is extreme and exposed skin can freeze in less than two minutes.
Wind chills below -70 C have been recorded in some northern Canadian communities.
What are the symptoms of frostbite?
A normal body temperature is approximately 37 C. When the core body temperature drops by 1 or 2 C, or your body is exposed to severe cold it increases your risk of harmful effects.
With frostbite, nerve damage occurs and frostbitten skin becomes discoloured and turns black.
Frostbite generally occurs in body parts furthest from the heart like hands, feet and the nose. It is an injury that leads to the loss of colour and feeling in extremities due to freezing temperatures.
Frostbite can permanently damage the body and nerve damage can become so severe that you will lose feeling in the affected area and blisters will occur. If the skin is broken and becomes infected, gangrene can set in which can result in the loss of limbs.
Symptoms of frostbite include redness or pain in any skin area, and can cause skin to appear white or grayish yellow in colour, become hard to the touch, and become very firm or waxy.
Blisters may develop on frostbitten skin, and a person who has frostbite may not know they have it until someone else points it out, because the frozen parts of the body are usually numb.
Those more at risk of developing frostbite include babies due to their underdeveloped ability to regulate body temperature, elderly people as they produce less body heat, and those with certain health conditions.
The use of alcohol and exhaustion also increases risk of frostbite, as judgment regarding bundling up and feeling cold may be impaired.
Frostbite is also often tied to hypothermia, which can be identified by shivering, confusion, and loss of muscular control. Both conditions require immediate medical attention.
Cold weather can also interacts with some medications, affecting the body’s ability to maintain or regulate body temperature.
How to deal with frostbite
Someone with signs of frostbite should get into a warm room as soon as possible and seek professional medical attention if possible.
Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on feet or toes that show signs of frostbite — this could increase the damage.
Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can also cause more damage.
Put the areas affected by frostbite in warm, but not hot, water. The temperature should be comfortable to the touch for the unaffected parts of the body.
Do not use heating pads, heat lamps, or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming, because affected areas that are numb can easily get burned.
How to prevent frostbite
Wear clothing appropriate for the weather. Synthetic and wool fabrics provide better insulation., and some synthetic fabrics are designed to keep perspiration away from your body which keep you dry and further reduce your risk.
Dress in layers with a wind resistant outer layer. You can remove layers if you get too warm (before you start sweating) or add a layer if you get cold.
Wear warm socks, gloves, a hat and scarf in cold weather. Be sure to put a scarf over your nose to protect it.
If you get wet, change into dry clothing as soon as possible. You lose heat faster when you’re wet.
Wear a face mask and goggles if you are participating in winter activities such as skiing, snowmobiling and skating to protect your face.
Keep moving (especially your hands and feet) to keep your blood flowing and maintain your body heat.
If you are caught in a severe snowstorm, or outside in extreme cold conditions, look for shelter. If there are no buildings around, a small cave, ditch, hollow tree or a vehicle can help reduce your chances of frostbite or hypothermia. Even if you find shelter, keep moving to maintain your body heat.
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