The City of Edmonton has extended the current extreme weather response. The weather activation will be extended to December 26, 2022.
While overnight temperatures are forecast to be slightly warmer than -20 degrees celsius over the next couple of days, they are expected to fall to dangerous levels as we approach Christmas. High shelter occupancy rates (90 percent average for December) and usage of the overnight extreme weather buses are also factors in the response extension.
The threshold for activating the City’s extreme weather response is a temperature of -20 degrees celsius with wind chill for at least three consecutive nights and shelter utilization rates at or over 90 percent.
The current extreme weather response took effect on November 29, 2022
How to help vulnerable Edmontonians during the cold spell:
- Learn to recognize the signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, or slurred speech; and a person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.
- Call 911 for someone in serious distress or in cases of emergency.
- Call 211, press 3 for 24/7 Crisis Diversion non-emergency support for shelter, intoxication and mental health.
- Our quick reference tool has steps you can take to help someone during the winter months.
- Agencies serving people experiencing homelessness are accepting monetary donations, as well as donations of warm clothing and winter gear. For a list of places to donate, please see: https://homewardtrust.ca/
sector-emergency-response/.
