Friday morning, the City of Trail issued an extreme weather alert and activated an extreme weather response shelter to support those in need during the severe cold.
This initiative is made possible through the collaboration of the City of Trail, BC Housing, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, Interior Health Authority, ANKORS, the Trail United Church, and community volunteers.
The temporary shelter will operate nightly from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. during the extreme weather alert.
The shelter is located in the Trail United Church, 1300 Pine Ave., and provides a safe, warm space for individuals needing relief from the harsh conditions.
"Once again, this year we are opening up the Emergency Weather Response shelter in partnership with BC Housing, Interior Health and ANKORS, a nonprofit organization that works with the unhoused population,” said Mayor Colleen Jones.
"Given the frigid temperatures in the forecast starting this weekend, it is necessary to offer our unhoused residents, and those living without heating, a secure and warm place to stay during these coldest nights."
Arctic air mass
Millions of Canadians are bracing for the coldest temperatures of the winter as an Arctic air mass plunges southward, affecting most of the continent in the coming days, according to Environment Canada.
Between Friday, Jan. 17 and Wednesday, Jan. 22, forecast temperature anomalies — deviations from normal temperatures — are expected across the country.
Winter has not forgotten southern British Columbia, Environment Canada noted in a recent post on X.
“Some of the lowest temperatures of the season so far are on the way to the Okanagan. Watch for overnight temperatures dropping into the minus double digits, and lower-than-normal temperatures into next week,” the post said.
The Arctic air mass will trail behind a fast-moving winter storm system, known as an Alberta clipper.
This system is expected to bring heavy snow from the northern and central Prairies to northern Ontario and Quebec by the weekend.
As the storm moves through, strong winds will cause blowing snow and dangerously low wind chills.
While temperatures are expected to moderate by midweek, additional cold outbreaks could follow later this month.
Jet streams — fast-moving air currents high in the atmosphere — play a significant role in the movement of air masses.
In winter, Environment Canada explained, a strong jet stream typically keeps the coldest Arctic air confined to northern Canada, with milder temperatures prevailing farther south.
However, when the jet stream weakens and dips, Arctic air can push into more populated regions.
In the coming days, a wavy jet stream will dip southward, bringing freezing temperatures as far as the Gulf of Mexico.