Extreme cold warning grips Ottawa at start of long weekend

'It's bitter. It's really cold' Brief spell of extreme cold comes as a surprise to tourist visiting Ottawa, CTV's Kimberley Johnson reports.

OTTAWA — Extreme cold is gripping the capital for the start of the first long weekend of 2020.

Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for Ottawa and eastern Ontario.

The forecast called for the temperature to drop to -26C this morning, with the wind chill it would feel like minus 35.

Environment Canada’s forecast says temperatures will drop to -25C Friday night. With the wind chill, it will feel like minus 30 overnight.

Ottawa Public Health has also issued a frostbite warning. A frostbite warning is issued when the wind chill is expected to drop below -35.

The health agency warns with a wind chill of -35 or colder, “exposed skin can freeze in less than 10 minutes.”

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