Ottawa Public Health issues Frostbite Advisories (-25 windchill or colder) and Warnings (-35 C windchill or colder) via social media and by email to community agencies that assist people at risk during cold weather to alert them when Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) forecasts windchill values at or below these thresholds.
Ottawa is one of the coldest winter capitals in the world, and with this come both opportunities to enjoy winter activities and landscapes, and risks associated with cold temperatures including frostbite, hypothermia, slips and falls and even death. The two most common outdoor cold weather health risks are frostbite and hypothermia. With proper preparation, however, everyone can enjoy all that Ottawa offers without worrying about getting too cold!
Ottawa Public Health has an interactive map of places to warm up during the day in Ottawa on the OPH Cold Weather website. You can enter an address with a street number and street name and get a list of the 20 closest warm spaces where everyone is welcome.
Please check out the links below to find out more about staying safe and warm and safe during winter in Ottawa. To learn more about frostbite and other winter safety tips on keeping warm you can also visit the OPH web site here.
Cold weather assistance
- Call 2-1-1 for program information about and locations of drop in centres and shelters, community and health resource centres, food banks and community food programs, winter clothing, financial assistance with utilities and a list of Out of the Cold programs. This service is provided by Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario.
- Call 3-1-1 to get referred to the best available shelter, or to get assistance for someone who needs transportation to get out of the cold.
- Call 8-1-1 Health Connect Ontario for non-emergency medical advice.
- Call 9-1-1 for medical emergency assistance such as hypothermia.
