Plunging temperatures don’t dampen spirits for some Winnipeggers braving the cold

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Peggy

Frigid temperatures blew into Winnipeg Wednesday — but some bundled up to not just survive the freeze, but embrace it.

The city, along with the rest of southern Manitoba, was under an extreme cold warning on Wednesday, with a cold Arctic air mass bringing plummeting temperatures and extreme wind chill values, according to Environment Canada.

Wednesday’s high in the city was forecast at just –24 C, with the wind making it feel like –33 C, according to CBC Manitoba weather specialist Riley Laychuk.

Those temperatures are well below seasonal, according to Environment Canada, with the normal high for Dec. 11 being –9 C and the low –19 C. That normal low is warmer than Wednesday’s high.

But Jesse Wood said she takes her dog, St. Luke, for walks every day, regardless of the temperature.

“We were out at –52 at one point,” Wood said at the Bourkevale dog park, along the Assiniboine River in west Winnipeg.

“When you have dogs, you have to become an all-weather person,” said Dawn Rodgers, Wood’s friend from Vancouver, who braved the cold to join the dog walk.

A woman stands in a snowy field wearing a parka with a lined hood. — Jesse Wood at Bourkevale dog park in Winnipeg on Wednesday. She says she takes her dog, St. Luke, for walks every day regardless of the temperature. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)

Wood is embracing the cold while it’s here. Clad in a thick green parka, she said her secret for surviving the winter is dressing for the weather and layering. She doesn’t bother counting down the days until warmer weather arrives — because it would only lead to disappointment, agitation and anxiety, she said.

Instead, she makes the best of the frigid days.

“Even if it’s five minutes, get outside and let the wind blow between your ears,” Wood said as her dog rolled on his back in the snow.

A smiling woman standing outside a glass bus shelter wears a heavy coat and a colourful wool scarf. — Natasha Murray was bundled up for the cold as she waited for a bus Wednesday. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)

Waiting for a bus at Polo Park, Natasha Murray was bundled up with two layers of gloves, socks and a blue-and-yellow crocheted scarf her grandmother made. Murray wasn’t shocked by the plummeting temperatures because she’s lived in Winnipeg for over 20 years.

“Layer up … and try finding some place comfy with friends if you don’t have to be out anywhere,” she said.

Despite the chill, joggers were still out Wednesday, breaking a sweat on the snowy streets.

“Last week I was running in shorts when it was plus 4 C,” said Dinos Thornquist. “But this is Winnipeg — it’s plus 4 C one day, –25 C the next.”

A man standing outside on a city street wears winter clothes, including a green wool scarf wrapped around his neck. — Runner Dinos Thornquist says Winnipeggers might as well get used to the cold, since it’s likely to last for a while. However, a warmup is expected for this weekend. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)

The weather is only likely to get colder this season, so it’s best to get used to it, said Thornquist — noting he’s not shocked by it since he’s lived in Winnipeg all his life.

However, this brutally cold snap won’t last too much longer — Laychuk is forecasting highs of –6 C for Saturday and climbing to –2 C by Monday.

In the meantime, a Manitoba Public Insurance spokesperson cautioned drivers to be careful on the road, since the cold weather can make conditions much more dangerous. Making sure you have winter tires and leaving extra space between vehicles when driving can reduce the risk of collisions on icy roads, she said.

And the United Way says if you see someone struggling to stay warm outside, you can call its 24-hour 211 help line.

It can help connect at-risk people with resources, like warming shelters at Main Street Project, a news release from the charitable organization said.