Extreme cold
Be prepared for extreme cold in Kelowna
Keep yourself and your family safe during extreme cold. It is easy to quickly suffer the effects of the cold if you are outside in wet, cold and windy weather. Exposure to cold temperatures can lead to frostbite or hypothermia. Winter weather conditions can quickly become dangerous with little or no warning.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issues a variety of severe winter weather alerts that can notify you about hazardous winter conditions.
How to prepare:
Depending on what sort of transportation you rely on for travel, and where you reside, your winter weather preparation plan may look different.
- Wear proper clothing to prevent cold injury:
- Ensure you have a hat, a scarf or something warm over your face, and gloves.
- Layers of clothing will keep you warm, with a wind and waterproof outer layer to stay dry.
- Wear wool or synthetic socks and waterproof boots that fit well. Cotton socks do not dry quickly.
- Prepare for longer outdoor wait times if you rely on public transit for your transportation. During a snow event, the road network may become congested and result in unexpected schedule changes.
- Pack blankets and other items to keep you warm in your vehicle. If you are unexpectedly in your automobile for a longer than expected period, you could become cold quickly.
- Prepare for alternative heat and power sources should your home lose electricity in winter storms.
Extreme weather response for outdoor sheltering:
People experiencing homelessness face increased risk of direct health impacts from weather hazards because they are likely to spend long periods of time outside, resulting in increased exposure. The City is working with community partners to mitigate the risks and impacts to those who are sheltering outdoors in winter weather conditions.
Frontline agencies including Commissionaires, Downtown on Call, Bylaw Services, Interior Health, community outreach agencies and RCMP will all be:
- conducting wellness checks
- distributing warming supplies
- and making every effort to ensure shelters are fully occupied using the publicly available shelter dashboard
- If an individual is encountered in obvious medical distress, they will immediately be connected with Emergency Health Services.
The City continues to refine its Extreme Cold Weather Response Plan. The plan will include:
- 3 levels of response, coordinated with Provincial agencies.
- Warming Buses deployed at night based on conditions, both roaming and static
- Metro Central providing hygiene and drop-in day services and relief from the cold during the day
New this year, through our collaboration with the Province and local community partners, there will be increased shelter beds available through the winter:
- Kelowna’s Gospel Mission will have an additional 12 shelter beds at the Bay Avenue Shelter until March 31st
- Turning Points is operating 25 additional spaces until March 31st, and
- Metro Central, in addition to their hygiene and drop-in day services, will also run a 15-person women’s only mat program during declared extreme weather events below -10C.
- Meanwhile, The City, BC Housing and other partners continue to work together to develop additional measures to best serve the community
- There are now 315 shelter beds currently available in Kelowna, including these additional temporary winter beds.
The City of Kelowna’s Extreme Weather Response Protocol has three levels of response that are activated when the following weather conditions are met and forecasted to be sustained for a continuous and extended period of time:
| Level 1 Response | Activated when the temperature and/or wind chill falls between 0C to -9C, there is any accumulation of snow, and the rain makes it difficult to keep dry. |
| Level 2 Response | Activated when the temperature and/or wind chill are at or below -10C, there is a significant accumulation of snow, precipitation makes it difficult to keep dry, and there is a severe wind warning. |
| Level 3 Response | Activated when the temperature or wind chill are at or below - 20C or colder, when there is a significant accumulation of snow/precipitation that makes it difficult to keep dry, and/or a severe wind warning. |
Level 1 Response (Environment Canada forecast of “feels like” between 0C and -9C)
- Triggers the Assistance to Shelter Act which provides RCMP with additional abilities to support at-risk individuals, access shelters, hospital, or other emergency services.
- If needed, front line agencies will seek out those sheltering outdoors to provide warming supplies, assist individuals to access available shelter beds, or engage emergency health services if required.
- Bylaw and RCMP adopt a compassionate, life and safety focus by using discretion respecting individuals sheltering in public spaces.
Level 2 Response (Environment Canada forecast of “feels like” -10C and colder)
- The Assistance to Shelter Act remains in place, providing RCMP and Bylaw officers with the additional ability to support at-risk individuals, access shelters, hospital, or other emergency services.
- Front line agencies and outreach partners will proactively seek out people sheltering outdoors to conduct wellness checks, distribute warming supplies, and provide transportation to indoor warming areas.
- Enables the RCMP to provide additional abilities to support individuals at risk to access shelters and/or hospital or other emergency services through the Assistance to Shelter Act.
- Warming buses will be activated to shelter those who remain outside from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- A stationary warming tent will and warming bus will be activated by Kelowna Gospel Mission between 5:00 and 8:30 a.m. at the City's outdoor sheltering site.
Level 3 Response (Environment Canada forecast of "feels like" -20 or colder)
In addition to all of the emergency cold weather responses activated in Level 2:
- The Assistance to Shelter Act remains in place, providing RCMP and Bylaw officers with the additional ability to support at-risk individuals, access shelters, hospital, or other emergency services.
- The roaming warming bus program will be activated to be operational 24 hours per day for those remaining outside.
- The stationary warming tent and warming bus activated by Kelowna Gospel Mission in Level 2 will now be operational 24 hours a day at the City's designated outdoor sheltering site
- Shelter in place is now activated at all outdoor locations
- Extreme Weather Response internal and external responses to be continued until Level 3, 3 and 1 emergency weather response protocols are rescinded
Additional internal alerts may be issued to encourage all City staff to be aware of individuals who are sheltering outdoors and to call emergency services if the person is in distress.
Additional resources:
According to Health Canada, those most at risk during cold weather conditions are:
- people who are marginally housed
- people who work outdoors
- people living in homes that are poorly insulated (with no heat or no power)
- people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and diseases affecting the blood vessels, and taking certain medications including beta-blockers
- winter sport enthusiasts
- infants and young children
- people aged 65 years and older
There are three stages of hypothermia. Here are the key warning signs for each stage:
| Mild |
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| Moderate |
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| Severe |
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