City issues extreme cold weather alert for Toronto

An extreme cold weather alert has been issued for Toronto because the temperature is expected to plungeon Wednesday night.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's medical health officer, issued the alert on Wednesday based on information from Environment Canada. The alert is in effect until further notice.

"Exposure to cold weather can be harmful to your health," de Villa says in the alert.

According to Environment Canada, the low temperature for Wednesday night is expected to drop to 14 C after a daytime high temperature of2 C. With the windchill, it is expected to feel like19 overnight.

When the city issues an extreme cold weather alert, it also activates local services focused on encouraging vulnerable peopleto stay indoors.

A warming centre opens at Metro Hall in downtown Toronto by 7 p.m. on the day that the alert is issued. It remains open untilnoon on the day that the alert ends.

Other servicesinclude a notification to community agencies to relax service restrictions, TTC tokens being made available at some drop-ins and additional overnight street outreach.