Extreme cold warnings end across region, temperatures to rise overnight

After prompting thousands to seek shelter and authorities to cancel outdoor events, an extreme cold spell that passed  through eastern Ontario and western Quebec has ended and the temperature is slowly rising across the region.

The region had been under an extreme cold warning since Thursday evening, as a cold front brought temperatures around -30 C and wind chill values in the -40s to northern parts of the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

According to Environment Canada's forecast, the temperature is expected to rise to -7 C by morning, with Sunday's daytime high above the freezing mark at 1 C.

Environment Canada issues extreme cold warnings when cold temperatures create an elevated health risk, such as frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, the agency warned.

Throughout the cold snap, municipalities such as Gatineau, Kingston and Ottawa offered lists of warm places and resources for people without homes.

On Thursday, 2,319 people accessed the City of Ottawa's shelter system, according to Kale Brown, acting manager of homelessness programs and shelters with the city.

"Our network of outreach services will continue to engage those individuals sleeping unsheltered, to provide supplies, such as cold weather gear, and connect to emergency shelter facilities as needed," Brown said.

The Salvation Army's street outreach team in Ottawa told CBC it would be out until Sunday morning ensuring people weren't left in the cold.

Winterlude kicks off — finally

After all outdoor events were cancelled Friday due to the cold, Winterlude officially kicked off Saturday morning.

Local MPs Yasir Naqvi and Marie-France Lalonde had been scheduled launch the festival Friday afternoon, but that was cancelled as well.

Instead, the festival went ahead Saturday with some programming changes. The Snowflake Kingdom in Gatineau opened at noon, and the Winterlude National Ice Carving Championship on Sparks Street in Ottawa began at 10 a.m.

The free shuttle services organized by OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l'Outaouais started at 12 p.m.

The Rideau Canal Skateway will be closed for this first weekend of Winterlude, the NCC said. This year is now the latest the canal has opened for skating since the NCC started clearing and managing the ice in 1971.

The ice won't be ready this weekend, despite the cold conditions, according to the NCC, because it requires 10 to 14 consecutive days of temperatures between -10 C and -20 C.

Most ski hills back in operation

Western Quebec ski hills at Edelweiss Ski Resort, Ski Vorlage, Mont Cascades and Mont Ste. Marie were all fully closed Friday.

Mont Cascades modified its hours, opening slightly later than usual Saturday morning because of the cold. Mont Ste. Marie also opened Saturday morning.

Edelweiss remained closed Saturday, while Ski Vorlage opened at 11 a.m., but cancelled all lessons.

Lessons were also cancelled Saturday at Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Que., also the hills were open.

Mount Pakenham near Calabogie, Ont., did not close Friday and will remain open through the weekend.