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Cold snap in store for Yellowknife

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Brendan Burke/NNSL photo. Yellowknife is expected to be hit with plummeting temperatures throughout the week, according to Environment Canada. Dec. 3, 2019.

It’s about to get a lot colder in the capital.

With a projected cold snap on the horizon for Yellowknife, temperatures are expected to plunge starting Wednesday.

Yellowknife is expected to be hit with plummeting temperatures throughout the week, according to Environment Canada. Brendan Burke/NNSL photo 

Yellowknifers’ thermometers, according to Environment Canada, will remain steady at minus 13 Celsius today — with windchill, that will feel like minus 19 in the morning and minus 24 in the afternoon — before temperatures drop to a nighttime low of minus 22 Celsius.

With windchill bringing the temperature down to a feels-like minus 31, there’s a risk of frostbite on Tuesday evening, according to Environment Canada.

The same risk extends to Wednesday’s forecast, when a low of minus 26 — minus 33 with windchill — is projected to hit Yellowknife.

Thursday will see a high of minus 25 and a low of minus 31.

Friday’s high, according to Environment Canada, will match Thursday’s, while the nighttime low is expected to reach minus 29 Celsius.

A high of minus 28 and a low of minus 31 is anticipated for Saturday, with
Environment Canada forecasting highs and lows of minus 26 on Sunday.

People are put at risk of suffering wind burn and frostbite when temperatures drop to windchill values below minus 27 Celsius, according to the Government of Canada.

With cold weather approaching, here’s some tips on how to stay warm and safe during a Yellowknife winter:

To stay warm and safe during the winter months, always wear appropriate clothing. Wool and synthetic fabrics are great at keeping the warmth in and the cold out.

Always keep an eye on weather alerts in your area. Environment Canada issues wind chill alerts to warn you of conditions that will cause frostbite to exposed skin.

If you’ve suffered mild frostbite — or “frostnip” — move to a warm area. Wrap yourself in blankets or reheat your body through skin-to-skin contact with another person.

You can also add heat directly to the frostbitten area - using water just above body temperature - in order to “thaw” any injured skin.

If you’ve suffered severe frostbite, you need immediate medical attention.

Source: Government of Canada

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The cold weather of December and most of this month will return, a meteorologist warns. NNSL file photo