Whistler's daytime highs have sat above the freezing mark every day so far this February, but the pendulum is set to swing in the opposite direction before the month comes to an end.
Beginning Tuesday night, Feb. 21, temperatures are expected to drop from the daytime high of 1 C to a low of -9 C, which will feel closer to -17 C with the wind chill overnight.
According to Environment Canada meteorologists, temperatures are expected to hold steady at around -8 C on Wednesday, but with northeast winds blowing at about 20 kilometres per hour with gusts of up to 40 km/h, the wind chill will feel more like -18 C throughout the day. Temperatures are anticipated to fall further overnight Wednesday to a low of -14 C.
Conditions will remain on the chilly side on Thursday, Feb. 23, when temperatures are expected to reach a high of -7 C (that's about 11 degrees colder than the average high in Whistler on Feb. 23), before bottoming out at a low of -17 C overnight. Temperatures are expected to begin warming up on Friday, with forecasters predicting a high of -5 C and a nighttime low of -9 before conditions reach more seasonal norms once the weekend rolls around, with temperatures expected to reach a high of -1 C on Saturday.
The resort could also see periods of snow on Wednesday, amounting to about 2 centimetres, before skies clear up for Thursday and Friday.
WCSS Extreme Weather Shelter to open four nights this week
In response to those bone-chilling temperature predictions, Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) is opening up its Extreme Weather Shelter this week to anyone in need of a warm place to spend the night.
The shelter at WCSS' 8000 Nesters Rd. headquarters will activate from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. for four consecutive nights beginning Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Warm food, beverages, mats, sleeping bags and pillows will be provided to six individuals on a first come, first served basis. Parking is available and support workers will also be onsite.
The weather-dependant nightly shelter opens if temperatures reach -10 C or colder, or if temperatures fall below 0 C amid adverse weather conditions like heavy snow or rain.
Anyone with questions about the shelter can call WCSS at 604-932-0113, or email [email protected].
