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Montreal's deep freeze will begin early Friday

Local wind chill values between minus 38 and minus 42 are expected until Saturday.

Jim Smith walks on Stanley St. during an extreme cold snap in Montreal on Jan. 14, 2009.
Jim Smith walks on Stanley St. during an extreme cold snap in Montreal on Jan. 14, 2009. Photo by john kenney /The Gazette

A relatively brief but extremely intense period of cold weather will descend on Montreal and several other regions of Quebec beginning at a little after midnight Friday. The temperature is expected to drop to minus 25 Celsius in a matter of hours.

Environment Canada issued cold weather warnings for Montreal as well as the regions of Outaouais, Eastern Townships, Beauce, Basses-Laurentides, Lanaudière, Mauricie and Bas-Saint-Laurent and the wind chill factor in these areas is expected to drop from minus 9 to minus 36 beginning Thursday night.

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Similar warnings have been issued for the regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Haute-Mauricie, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, certain sectors of the Laurentians and Quebec City, with wind chills varying from minus 38 to minus 48 until Saturday.

All regions covered by the warnings are expected to record a high on Friday of minus 24. On Saturday, the maximum temperature is expected to be minus 16.

A high of minus 3 degrees is expected for Sunday as the cold snap comes to an end.

Montreal’s public health department notes that health risks such as frostbite and hypothermia increase when the temperature drops to minus 27. Those suffering from heart conditions or asthma or who have reduced mobility are advised to remain indoors  during periods of increased cold.

Those who must go outside are advised to dress warmly and in layers that can be removed you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant. Remember to cover up exposed areas of skin because frostbite can develop quickly with the expected windchill factors.

Those who must work outside should take regularly scheduled breaks to warm up.

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