Extreme cold warnings continue for B.C.'s north and Interior

Unseasonably low temperatures will continue across B.C.'s Interior and north Wednesday and Thursday, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Extreme cold warningsare in place across the north and parts of the Interior, including Prince George, the Chilcotin, Quesnel, Williams Lake and Bulkley Valley area, with areas experiencing temperatures below -30 Cand wind chills that feellike 40 C.

Warnings are also in place for the southern Interior, including the Okanagan Valley, Thompson, East Kootenay and Similkameen, with residents being warned of "bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chill values."

Temperatures in Prince George are forecast to increase towardthe end of the week.

On Wednesday, the city can expect sunny weather with a high of 28 C, a wind chill that feels like 49 C during the daytime and a low of 35 C at night.

Kamloops, Kelowna and Cranbrook are forecast to record daytime highs between 20 C and 23 C on Wednesday morning, with a wind chill that feels like 33 C.

Health risk of extreme cold

Environment Canada is also warningofvarious health risks to people under extreme cold conditions, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain, numbness and colour change in the fingers and toes.

Kelowna General Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Jeff Eppleris remindingpeople to take precautions against frostbite, an injury caused by the freezing of skin and underlying tissues.

"It's really important to bundle up properly and protect any exposed skin from the wind."

Municipalities across the Interior and north have promised shelter and warming spaces for homeless campers.

Prince George Mayor Simon Yu said on Tuesday that the extreme cold had caught many residents off guard, but the city will ensure there are adequate warm indoor spaces for homeless people.

"This will be my biggest concern," Yu said. "All the warming centres are opening up, and we do have, for the time being ... enough warm shelters for everybody to go to."

The City of Kelowna said it had extended the operating hours of its 24-passenger emergency warming bus at the Rail Trail to 5 p.m.-9 a.m. until Saturdaywhen the current extreme cold weather is expected to endand had also secured 27 insulated tents for campers.

Environment Canadaalso issued an Arctic outflow warning for the north and central coasts on Wednesday and the rest of the week. It says strong winds between 70 and 100 km/h will combine with low temperatures to create wind chills as low as 25 C.

Prince Rupert can expect sunny weather on Wednesday with a high of 8 C and a wind chill that feels like 20 C.