The bitter cold that has gripped Mississauga for more than a week hit a new low on Friday, Jan. 30, when Toronto Pearson recorded the coldest morning of the winter so far. Environment and Climate Change Canada kept its cold warning for the Greater Toronto Area in place into the weekend.

The warning, issued Thursday for southern Ontario from Windsor to Cornwall, called for wind chills of -30 to -35 across the GTA from Thursday night into Friday morning.

In Mississauga, Friday's high was forecast at about -13 C, but the wind made it feel closer to -33 in the morning and -19 in the afternoon.

Coldest morning at Pearson

Toronto Pearson International Airport called Friday the coldest morning of the season, with wind chills on the airfield making it feel like -30. Airport officials warned that operations could move more slowly because ground crews working outside need to take frequent breaks to stay safe, and advised travellers to check their flight status before leaving home.

It’s the coldest morning so far this winter, with freezing temperatures gripping the GTA and wind chills on the airfield making it feel like -30 C.

— Toronto Pearson International Airport

The airport said it expected 129,082 travellers on Friday, on 966 arriving and departing flights.

More cold through the weekend

The warning remained in effect Saturday, with wind chills of -25 to -30 forecast early Saturday and expected to return overnight into early Sunday. Saturday was forecast to be sunny, with a high of -9 C and a low of -15 C.

Relief will be short-lived. Environment Canada meteorologist Mitchell Meredith said the warnings could lift by Sunday morning, when Toronto is forecast to warm to a high of -8 C, but that cold warnings could return to large parts of southern Ontario next Saturday as the next wave of cold air arrives.

Meredith said below-freezing temperatures could hang on in southern Ontario until mid-to-late February, a longer stretch of cold than the region has seen in recent years.

Environment Canada warns that frostbite can set in quickly on uncovered skin when the wind is strong.

Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.

— Environment and Climate Change Canada

How to stay safe

  • Dress in warm layers and cover exposed skin, including hands, ears and face.

  • Limit time outdoors whenever possible.

  • Watch for colour changes in fingers and toes, pain, numbness, tingling or swelling. If they appear, move indoors and begin warming.

  • Bring pets inside.