The Russell Housing Centre is opening its doors to provide shelter to homeless folks as cold arctic air makes its way to New West.
The New Westminster extreme weather plan provides for sheltering spaces to be made available when weather is severe enough to pose a higher health risk to homeless people.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Metro Vancouver stating that Arctic air is moving throughout B.C. and will reach the south coast later today.
In response to the cold, which is forecast to persist for the remainder of the week, the New Westminster Extreme Weather Response Team has called an extreme weather alert for Feb. 6 to 11. On these days, anyone who is sleeping outside is urged to go to the Russell Housing Centre’s Honeymoon Suite at 740 Carnarvon St., which will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
“On Tuesday, temperatures will continue to drop as more Arctic air is forced southwards. Strong outflow winds and brisk wind-chill values are then expected to begin over southern coastal areas Tuesday night,” said the Environment Canada weather statement. “Temperatures over Interior regions will be 10 to 20 degrees below the seasonal average, while coastal areas will be five to 10 degrees below seasonal, making for the coldest conditions seen this season.”
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