Toronto and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area are waking up to another blast of dangerous Arctic air, with an extreme cold warning now in effect as wind chills drop to some of the lowest levels seen in years.

Environment Canada says temperatures plunged to around –23°C overnight, and with strong northwesterly winds, the wind chill is hovering near –30. At those levels, frostbite on exposed skin can develop in as little as 10 to 20 minutes.

Forecasters say this latest surge of Arctic air caps off a week of relentless cold across southern Ontario, creating one of the harshest stretches of winter weather this season. The warning covers Toronto as well as Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton and surrounding areas.

Health Risks in Extreme Cold

Environment Canada is urging residents to watch for early signs of frostbite, including colour changes in fingers and toes, numbness, tingling, pain, or swelling. Anyone experiencing symptoms should move indoors and begin warming up immediately.

Friday’s conditions won’t offer much relief. Despite a mix of sun and cloud, temperatures will struggle to reach –12°C, with morning wind chills again near –30. Overnight lows will dip to around –16°C.

Slight Weekend Improvement

Saturday will still be cold, with a high near –10°C, but lighter winds will make it feel slightly less severe. A more noticeable shift comes Sunday, when mainly sunny skies and a high of –6°C mark the beginning of a gradual break from the deep freeze.

Warming Centres Open

In response to the extended cold, the City of Toronto has opened additional warming centres to help residents get out of the extreme temperatures. A new temporary location at John Innis Community Centre (150 Sherbourne St.) joins several others already operating across the city.

• 136 Spadina Road (south of Dupont St.)
• 81 Elizabeth Street (behind City Hall, West of Bay St., south of Dundas St. W.)
• 349 George Street (East of Jarvis St., south of Gerrard St. E.)
• 12 Holmes Avenue (Off of Yonge St., south of Finch Ave. E.)
• 885 Scarborough Golf Club Road (East of Markham Rd., south of Ellesmere Rd.)
• Cecil Community Centre, 58 Cecil Street (East of Spadina Ave., south of College St.)
• Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, 870 Queen Street East (East of Broadview Ave., north of Queen St. E.)

Officials are reminding people to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, limit time outdoors, and check on vulnerable neighbours, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness.

This isn’t just typical winter weather — it’s a cold snap that can quickly become dangerous without proper precautions.