Cold Warning issued for Jan 24 and Jan 25

Residents of Cavan Monaghan

Please be advised that Lakelands Public Health (LPH) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a cold warning for the Peterborough region for Saturday, January 24th and Sunday, January 25th. Notably, on Saturday morning, temperatures are expected to drop to -28°C, with wind chill reaching as low as -37. These cold temperatures create conditions that significantly increase the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. 

The following locations in the Township of Cavan Monaghan will be available as warming rooms:

• CMCC (986 County Rd. 10)
• Sat. 24 January, 2026 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Sun. 25 January, 2026 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Bruce Johnson Library (2199 Davis Rd.)
• Sat. 24 January, 2026 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Millbrook Public Library (1 Dufferin St.)
• Sat. 24 January, 2026 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The following information has been provided by LPH:

Cold Weather and Health

Cold weather can cause serious health problems. It can lead to cold-related illnesses and injuries like hypothermia, frostbite and frost nip. It can also exacerbate existing health problems. These issues can lead to medical emergencies and death, so it is important to take extreme cold seriously. 

Risk of frostbite and hypothermia increases at temperatures or windchills of around -28°C, but there can still be risk between -10°C and -27°C for those who are outdoors for long periods of time without adequate protection.

Cold-related illnesses are preventable! Keep these 3 steps in mind to stay safe during an extreme cold event:  

1. Know Your Risk
2. Protect Yourself
3. Know when to get help

Know Your Risk

• While extreme cold can put everyone at risk for cold-related illnesses, health risks are greatest for:
• People experiencing homelessness or living without adequate heat
• Older adults
• Infants and young children
• Individuals with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or mental health conditions
• People taking certain medications or using substances that can affect body temperature, awareness, or circulation
• Individuals with mobility challenges, those who rely on mobility devices, or those with cognitive impairments
• Outdoor workers and winter sport enthusiasts
• The more risk factors a person experiences, the higher their risk of health impacts.

If you or someone in your life is particularly at risk (“vulnerable”), consider setting up a buddy system to check in with each other during the cold event.

Protect Yourself

• Check the weather: Pay attention to weather alerts, coldest times of day, and adjust your plans.
• Dress appropriately: Dress in layers with a wind resistant outer layer. Keep your head, neck, torso, hands, and feet warm. Cover as much skin as possible. Change wet clothing quickly.
• Keep moving: Especially your hands and feet to maintain blood flow and body heat.
• Be cautious with strenuous activity: Avoid heavy snow shoveling if you have heart or health concerns.
• Watch for slippery surfaces: Consider ice grips or wait until conditions improve.
• Find shelter: If caught outside in severe weather, go indoors immediately.
• Protect from the sun: Wear sunglasses, lip balm, and sunscreen on sunny days.
• Avoid alcohol: It affects blood flow and increases hypothermia risk.
• Check on others: Make sure older adults, friends, and neighbors are warm and have food, medications, and supplies. Consider the risk factors listed above, especially for those who live alone.

Know when to get help

• Pay attention to how you and those around you feel.
• Watch for signs of cold-related illness and injuries:  
• Frostbite may cause pale, numb, or hard skin, typically on fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
• Hypothermia symptoms include shivering and some difficulty moving hands. If symptoms escalate to include confusion, slurred speech, and difficulty walking, seek medical attention immediately. 
• More information on stages of frostbite and hypothermia, and treatment/what to do can be found at Extreme Cold | Lakelands Public Health  
• Consult a healthcare provider if you have non-emergent concerns.   
• Ontario Health811 is available 24/7 by dialing 811 or visiting https://health811.ontario.ca/. Service is provided in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages.  
• Call 911 if you are caring for someone who is showing signs of severe frostbite or hypothermia. 

Resources

• Watch for Signs of Cold Injury (Health Canada)  
• Avoid~ Spot~Treat Frostbite (CDC)  
• Keeping Warm Indoors (Fraser Health BC)  

Community Supports

• Overnight emergency shelter options are listed here: Emergency Shelter | City of Peterborough
• Trinity Community Centre (360 Reid St.) offers a drop-in program with hours from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Operated by One City Peterborough, the Trinity Community Centre provides services on behalf of the City of Peterborough. For a full description of meals and other services that One City provides, visit their website at www.onecityptbo.ca. 
• Members of the public are encouraged to access warm public spaces (e.g., shopping centres, public libraries, places of worship). There may be warming centres available. Residents can reach out to their municipalities to find out more information.

Additional Lakelands Public Health Resources:

• LPH Social Media Handle: Facebook, and Instagram (@phlakelands)
• Extreme Cold Webpage: Extreme Cold | Lakelands Public Health

Consider calling LPH 1-844-575-4567 (toll-free) with general inquiries (not symptom concerns)

This notice was created and shared by Lakelands Public Health.

• To receive weather alerts directly, download the WeatherCan app https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-general-tools-resources/weathercan.html  

Weather forecasts and alerts may also be accessed from ECCC: https://weather.gc.ca/, or calling “Hello Weather”: English: 1-833-794-3556 (Peterborough Code: 04121)