Is this Hamilton’s coldest January ever? Not even close
Hamilton's issuing of another cold weather alert Tuesday - its fifth this month - might have some residents asking: Is this our coldest January in recent memory?
Surprisingly, it's far from it, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Gerald Cheng.
The average mean temperature of -6.3 C this month barely cracks Hamilton's top-25 coldest January's dating back to 1959, said Cheng, adding the lowest average mean temperature recorded was in 1994 at -10.3 C.
Meanwhile, present nighttime lows in the city also lag historically.
The average nighttime low in January 2022 ranks 12th all-time at -11.4 C, with 2014 and 2015 - at -12.4 C and -11.8 C, respectively - each edging into the top-10. The coldest average nighttime low for January was also in 1994 at a frigid -19.8 C.
Cheng admits it's been cold this month - but a normal kind of cold. What's changed, perhaps, is our perception of the cold given the recent string of warmer winters, he said.
We were spoiled rotten in December," said Cheng. Our perception of cold is different because it's always that first event that gets people - whether it's snow or heat.
Indeed, compared to January, December was sizzling with a mean average temperature just shy of 1 C. People get accustomed to that weather, said Cheng, and need to adjust when a real cold front hit.
You're not used to it," he said. And coming out of December, an above normal month, people weren't used to (this week's) cold, even if it's normal."
Environment Canada forecasted temperatures to fall to -20 C overnight and -24 with the wind chill Tuesday, with a chance of flurries over the next few days.
It prompted Hamilton's medical officer of health to issue its third cold weather alert in the past five days.
The alert - issued anytime temperatures are at or below -15 C or -20 with the wind chill - will remain active until a cancellation notice is issued.
Residents are reminded by public health to check on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours in the community as exposure to cold weather can be harmful and the wind always makes it feel colder, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
In a release, the city said agencies working with people experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerable have been notified of the alert so they can activate cold weather procedures.
During the alert, Bennetto Recreation Centre at 450 Hughson St. N. is open from 5 p.m. until noon the following day as an overnight warming centre. The city has also made available the following daytime warming centres, which are open from noon until 7 p.m.:
- Dominic Agostino Riverdale Community Centre, 150 Violet Dr.;
- Huntington Park Recreation Centre, 87 Brentwood Dr.;
- Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre, 192 Wentworth St. N.;
- and Westmount Recreation Centre, 35 Lynbrook Dr.
The Hub at 78 Vine St. and Wesley Day Centre at 52 Catharine St. N. are also open with extended hours during a cold alert.
Members of the public can report the location of a person in need of shelter to the Salvation Army at 905-527-1444, ext. 0.
-With files from Jennifer Moore
Sebastian Bron is a reporter at The Spectator. sbron@thespec.com