The expected cold snap has materialized, leading to the activation of Greater Victoria’s extreme-weather response program today.
This is the second time the program has been activated this year.
The program opens up extra shelter spaces, expanding the number from 365 beds to as many as 465 if needed. Strong winds, excessive amounts of rain and freezing temperatures can trigger the program.
The temperature in Victoria is expected to dip down to -3 C tonight and stay below freezing for the rest of the week, with lows down to -5 C. There is an up to 60 per cent chance of flurries. Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures five to 10 degrees below seasonal averages.
The extreme-weather program was used 43 times last winter, according to the program’s annual report.
The protocol was developed in 2004 after the Silver Threads building was used to temporarily house people during a severe cold spell.
Police and fire departments, social service agencies, municipal governments and churches now work together to expand the number of shelter spaces from 365 beds to as many as 465 if needed.
Extra mats can be made available at Rock Bay Landing (535 Ellice St.), Our Place Society (919 Pandora Ave.) and the Salvation Army Addictions and Recovery Centre (525 Johnson St.).
The extreme weather protocol is updated daily and shelters are notified of the change in status by about 10 a.m. every day. The names and locations of the shelters can be found on the program’s website at vewp.net.
Environment Canada’s special weather statement Sunday morning calls for cold, with increasing chances for snow predicted for Greater Victoria.
The Arctic outflow weather system will create the potential for snow squalls on the eastern side of the Island late Sunday afternoon and into the evening.
These snow squalls will be localized but could produce 2 to 4 centimetres of snowfall for the southern Gulf Islands and Victoria, Environment Canada said.
Elsewhere in B.C., extreme cold and Arctic outflow warnings were in place, with temperatures of -30 C (below -40 C with the wind chill) in the forecast.
