Victoria could feel as cold as -16 C this week if the combination of freezing temperatures and wind continues, says Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones.
By the weekend, the arctic ridge will break down. “Then we could see flurries on Saturday,” said Jones, who adds there is nothing particularly unique about this cold snap. The national weather agency predicts temperatures near freezing during the day and -5 C at night, with winds of 30 to 50 kilometres an hour for the next few days.
The lowest temperature on record for Feb. 4 was set in 1985 at -6.2 C.
“We’re moving into a cold phase. This is weather. It happens,” he said.
The freezing temperatures can be dangerous for the city’s homeless, advocates said, especially if they’re not prepared.
“It was pretty cold this morning,” said Rev. Al Tysick of the Dandelion Society on Tuesday. Tysick drives around the city before dawn, offering coffee, muffins and help to people on the streets.
“I saw somebody laying on the pavement in a parkade with no blanket or anything. He got up and said, ‘Hello,’ ” Tysick said. “People can be amazingly resilient but what happens when they get pneumonia and only weeks later end up in the hospital near death?”
Extra shelter spaces opened Feb. 2 when the Greater Victoria Extreme Weather Protocol was enacted. It will continue as long as temperatures stay below -2 C or it snows.
About 70 mats were made available in three downtown locations and one in Sooke.
Our Place opens its doors at 7:30 p.m. with 30 emergency mats that have filled up each night. More than 80 people also showed up Monday night just to get warm.
Other emergency beds at the Salvation Army and Native Friendship centre are open by 9 p.m. There is also a van that shuttles people to the shelter that best suits their needs.
“We’ve seen a steady increase each night,” said regional co-ordinator Jen Bacon.
If the cold weather continues or it begins to snow, more spaces and warming stations will be made available. The protocol is part of the B.C. Housing Extreme Weather Response Program and includes local police, advocacy agencies and the Red Cross.
Don McTavish, manager of shelters for the Cool Aid Society, said the extreme weather protocol helps take the pressure off his organization to find people spaces to sleep.
But the freezing weather is still a concern for clients.
“There’s always a shortage of warm socks, coats and blankets,” said McTavish, who was on his way to buy mats to give out. “It gives a bit of a thermal break between the body and the ground for those outside.”
He said outreach is especially important at this time.
“Making sure the word gets out that it’s cold and that it’s going to get really cold. We have to do that for some people who might not always come in and get the warnings,” he said.
