Bitterly cold temperatures on tap for New Year’s Eve in Toronto

People skate at Nathan Phillips Square on New Year's Eve in Toronto, on Sunday, Dec 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Revellers will be greeted by frigid conditions and blowing snow in Toronto when they ring in the New Year on Wednesday night.

Environment Canada is calling for a high of -3 C on New Year’s Eve but it will feel much colder than that throughout the day. When factoring in the wind chill, the city will feel like -13 today.

By tonight, the temperature will drop to a low of -15 C, feeling closer to -20.

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“If you’re celebrating New Year’s outdoors this year, bundle up,” CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said.

“At midnight, it will be about -11 C, feeling (like) -18.”

Environment Canada had issued a “yellow warning” for snow squalls in Toronto this New Year’s Eve, with up to five centimetres of snowfall expected tonight.

• READ MORE: Canada introduces new colour-coded system for weather alerts

The weather is playing a factor in the delay of some flights going through Toronto Pearson Wednesday night, according to NAV Canada.

“Our team is moving aircraft safely, and as quickly as possible,” NAV Canada said in a social media post, urging travellers to check the status of their flights with their respective airlines.

More bitterly cold temperatures are on the way on New Year’s Day.

The national weather agency is calling for a high of -6 on Jan. 1, feeling like -26 in the morning and -12 in the afternoon.

The cold conditions have prompted the City of Toronto to open two additional warming centres today, including one at the Cecil Community Centre and another at the Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre. Those surge warming centres will open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and the five other warming centre that are already open will continue to operate during the cold snap.