Hamilton under cold alert, schools closed Friday, as 'flash freeze,' major storm expected

The City of Hamilton has issued a cold weather alert effective Friday, ahead of what Environment Canada says will be a "major snow storm." 

Public and Catholic schools, McMaster University and Mohawk College campuses will all be closed Friday, those organizations announced Thursday afternoon.

The city issues cold alerts when the temperature goes or is expected to go below -15, or -20 with windchill. 

When a cold alert is issued, a number of recreation centres and library branches serve as "warm places," during regular customer service hours. (The Hamilton Public Library has announced all its branches would be closed Friday however, are expected to have limited hours Saturday and are closed Sunday and Monday.) 

The Hub, at 78 Vine Street, extends its hours during a cold alert and is open as a warming centre from 10 p.m. until 10 a.m. 

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Environment Canada anticipates rain Thursday night into Friday morning, which will turn to 9cm of "blowing snow," with a possible flash freeze, as temperatures are expected to dip drastically from 2 C to -13 C, -27 C with the windchill by Friday afternoon. 

The weather agency says winds may get up to 90km an hour on Friday, with a chance of power outages across Ontario. Snowfall of 5 to 15 cm is expected by Saturday morning.

"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow," the agency said.

Closures across the city

Hamilton international Airport is expecting air travel cancellations and delays through the weekend.

YMCA announced all child care programs in Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford will be closed Friday. 

Schools are also closed, including those with Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and Conseil scolaire Viamonde, the French school board.

McMaster University will be closed, with "all scheduled exams, meetings and events," both in person and remote, cancelled. Exams will be rescheduled. Mohawk College announced that it will also be closed.

How to prepare and stay safe

CBC Hamilton spoke with Hamilton fire and Hamilton paramedics on how to prepare for the storm. They suggested:

• Listen local news for information.
• Leave water running at a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Travel during the day, tell someone your route and your arrival time, and stick to cleared routes. 
• Anticipate going without heating, lighting, water, or phone service. 
• Prepare a Family Emergency Survival Kit ahead of time, with a battery-powered or wind-up radio. 
• Be prepared to last at least 72 hours without power.
• Do not leave candles unattended.
• Wear warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in layers if you are going outside, to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers.
• Read instructions on all electric blankets and heating pads, and avoid direct skin contact to avoid burns. 
• Wear dry socks and avoid wet feet to protect yourself from frostbite.
• Stay indoors if you can. 

Limited options for 'warm places' may lead to frostbite: advocates 

The Hub was one of several shelter and drop-in centre operators that said last month they were worried that without funding for overnight warming spaces, there will be more cases of frostbites or death during the cold winter months this year. 

Jennifer Bonner, executive director of The Hub, said that warming spaces were crucial for people experiencing homelessness. 

"A large snowfall can collapse tents very easily," she said. "People could die in their tents or get frostbite."

Hamilton's Encampment Support Network, in partnership with 541 541 Eatery & Exchange, a non-profit Hamilton cafe on Barton Street, told CBC Hamilton Thursday it is trying to get more tents and sleeping bags to people living outdoors in Hamilton this week.

Sarah Rehou, a burn researcher with Hamilton Health Sciences, said risk of frostbite and hypothermia is "enormous" for people living outdoors. 

"It's dangerous," she said. "It's cold and it's wet and people don't have the opportunity necessarily to come inside."

If you suspect you have frostbite, Rehou suggests putting the affected area in warm (not hot) water, to allow heat to enter the skin. She said go to the emergency room if your skin feels firm and wax, won't heat up and continues feeling numb. 

"It's better to check it out," she said. 

Preventing fires during cold weather and power outages 

Hamilton Fire chief Dave Cunliffe is asking residents to shovel snow away from their furnace vents and gas meter, to prevent carbon monoxide build up in their homes, check fire and carbon monoxide detectors. 

"We also ask [that if you] have a hydrant on your property, shovel the hydrant out so it's exposed, so that in case of emergency we can readily see it and access it," he said. 

He said that during a power outage, the Hamilton Fire Department strongly recommends that "generators are not placed in a location where the exhaust can go through a window or a doorway into the house, because that exhaust will have carbon monoxide and you could fill up the rooms with carbon monoxide." 

He also suggests not warming up vehicles inside closed garages, because of the risks with carbon monoxide. 

Alectra Utilities, which services much of the area, said earlier this week it is "preparing emergency response crews to respond and restore power in the event outages occur." 

It said that "in the event of downed powerlines, stay at least 10 metres away (the length of a school bus), and call 911 immediately." 

To report outages, Alectra Utilities' customers should call the company or check its website for status of outages and repairs. 

It also suggested people keep cellphones charged and prepare an emergency kit that includes a list of "important telephone numbers for family doctors, schools, daycare and insurance companies." 

Stay hydrated when shovelling

Hamilton paramedic Dave Thompson said residents should stretch before shovelling snow, take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. 

To help emergency services stay available to cases most in need, Thompson says residents should call 911 especially if someone is:

• Unconscious
• Having a seizure
• Experiencing chest pain
• Having trouble breathing
• Life-threatening bleeding

"If you know it's something minor, seeking alternative healthcare through a family doctor, a clinic, or an urgent care is always helpful to the system as well," he said.