Extreme cold, snow squalls forecast in Kingston and Belleville area
Both warnings expected to end Wednesday
The Kingston and Belleville areas now have an extreme cold warning Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. It overlaps with a long-lasting snow squall alert for southern Prince Edward County.
The cold warning, with an eastern border around Kingston city limits and a northern limit around Highway 7, calls for bitterly cold wind chill that could make it feel as cold as –35.
Overnight lows in the area are forecast to be –21 C.
Communities in Prince Edward County including Bloomfield, Picton and Wellington could be in for 15 to 25 centimetres of heavy blowing snow between late Monday afternoon and early Wednesday morning, according to Environment Canada.
The agency first issued a snow squall watch, then warning for southern parts of the county closer to Lake Ontario.
Snow squalls are moderate to heavy flurries driven by strong, gusty winds that can materialize with little warning and make it very hard to see.
Winds could gust up to 60 km/h, according to Environment Canada's forecast. Gusts have indeed reached that strength starting Monday evening.
Forecasters ask people in the area to consider postponing non-essential travel.
Much of Canada is experiencing below-average temperatures including an extreme cold warning in some areas west of Ottawa overnight Sunday.
Environment Canada issues extreme cold warnings when temperatures drop low enough that people can develop conditions like frostbite or hypothermia.
People who leave the house should dress warmly and make sure as little skin as possible is exposed, the agency said.
Symptoms to watch for in the cold include a colour change in one's fingers and toes, chest pain, shortness of breath, muscle pain, weakness and numbness.
The agency also recommended checking up on friends, family, and neighbours and advised pet owners to keep their pets indoors.
Kingston has warming centres and overnight resources. Belleville operates an overnight warming centre at 240 Bridge St. West, the former exhibition grounds.