Cold spell expected across Yukon for remainder of December

Environment Canada says temperatures are about 20 degrees colder than usual for December

People living in the Yukon know the winter months can be cold. Really cold.

But even for hardy Yukoners recent temperatures have felt colder than normal and that’s because they are — by nearly 20 degrees.

According to Environment Canada, temperatures for December typically sit around –23 C in Yukon but something called a high arctic ridge — an area of high atmospheric pressure — looming over the territory is dropping temperatures to around –40 C.

Ken Dosanjh, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said temperatures will be at their coldest across Yukon Wednesday and Thursday. Yukoners can expect a bit of relief from Friday through the weekend, but it’s not expected to last very long.

Next week temperatures are set to drop once again and stay there until the end of December.

Dosanjh said it’s important for people who plan to venture out into the cold, that they wear proper clothing, and keep their skin from being exposed, as frostbite can happen within minutes.

He also said pets should not be left outside during this time.

School buses cancelled with no notice

The extreme cold was also talked about in the legislative assembly on Wednesday, with Opposition Leader Kate White saying that some parents hadn’t been notified on time about cancelled school buses that morning. A number of buses were cancelled in Whitehorse on Wednesday morning, as the temperature sat at about –40 C.

“Our office heard from families who received notifications well after their kids were sent out to the bus stop, leaving them scrambling and their children in dangerous conditions,” White said.

“I can’t imagine how frustrating that was for caregivers who were feeling very afraid about that.”

Education Minister Scott Kent said he had heard similar concerns from parents, and said his department needed to “up our game” when it came to communicating bus cancellations, especially in extreme cold weather.

He said he’s asked department officials to use other tools to notify parents “such as the email list or the text messaging option that we have for specific schools.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Standard Bus acknowledged it had a “challenging start to the day” in Whitehorse, where “several” of its school buses were cancelled.

“Despite buses being plugged in and our staff working outdoors early this morning to get vehicles running, the extreme cold prevented many units from starting,” the company said.

“We will continue to share information about any cancellations or delays as soon as it becomes available.”

The cold spell has also prompted Yukon’s deputy fire marshal to urge the public to take precautions to prevent accidents inside or outside of their homes.

He said December is historically when responders see the highest number of fire-related fatalities.

“Having your appliance, whether it’s wood, oil, propane serviced by a qualified professional” said Jonathon Mah. “Have your chimneys and flues inspected, and cleaned annually.”

Mah said it’s also imperative to ensure all smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors are checked, and working.

He also said to ensure when using a wood stove, the wood is dry. Burning wet, or green wood can create an excess amount of creosote within the chimney pipe, which could lead to a chimney fire, he said.

‘This is winter, right ?’

But Yukoners aren’t complaining.

“I’ve seen worse,” said Whitehorse resident Sameer Kumal.

“I’m happy about it,” Gloria deVilliers, another resident, said. “Helps kill the spruce beetles. Freezes up our river for travellers and trappers.”

“This is winter right?” said Grant Zazula. “We complain about climate change causing global warming and we complain about the cold so we complain about the weather regardless of what’s happening.”

The cold temperatures have also impacted businesses, and services across the territory.

In Pelly Crossing, the manager of the Selkirk Centre, which is the village’s gas station, grocery store, and post office has notified the public that only one of the four gas pumps are working.

The manager is recommending people travel with extra jerry cans if they must travel long distances, or avoid travelling all together.

elated stories from around the North: 

Canada: Warmer temperatures have put chinook salmon — and a way of life — in grave danger, CBC News

Finland: Lapland bucks the trend as rest of Finland logs near-record warm autumn, Eye on the Arctic

Sweden: Cooler summer temperatures good for Sweden’s Sami reindeer-herding communities, Radio Sweden

United States: New research suggest some salmon species expanding their range in the Arctic, Eye on the Arctic