For the second day in a row, all buses in the Quesnel School District are cancelled, as the Cariboo remains under an extreme cold warning Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The temperature in Quesnel sitting at -39 C as of 5:16 a.m., while it is -39 C in Wells as of 5:35 a.m. and even colder in Nazko, where it is -44 C.
The school district cancels buses when the temperature is -32 C or lower or the roads have been deemed unsafe for travel.
“At approximately 5 a.m., the Transportation Department determined, in consultation with appropriate sources, that most rural bus routes were unsafe for school bus travel,” states the Quesnel School District’s website. “Student safety is our top priority.”
Although the buses are not running, schools are open today, and teachers will be in attendance at schools.
“Where there is sufficient attendance, regular instruction will take place,” according to the school district. “However, if all students cannot attend, the regular program will not be offered and students attending will receive instructional support, be offered study sessions, and/or review.”
Environment Canada issues another extreme cold warning for the Cariboo, north including Quesnel and south including Williams Lake, this morning at 4:18 a.m.
“A period of very cold wind chills continues,” states the warning. “Bitterly cold arctic air will continue to remain entrenched over the area tonight through Wednesday. Occasional winds to 15 kilometres per hour will give wind chill values down to -40.”
Environment Canada warns that frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with the wind chill.
In Quesnel, the high for today is forecast to be -27 C, with a wind chill of -42 C in the morning and -32 C this afternoon. About five centimetres of snow is expected tonight, with temperatures steady around -26 C. The wind chill is expected to be near -34 C, and there will be a risk of frostbite tonight.
Environment Canada calls for a high of -20 C for Thursday, Jan. 16, with wind chill of -34 C in the morning and -24 C in the afternoon and risk of frostbite.
In Wells, the forecast is calling for -29 C today and -32 C tonight, then -21 C Thursday during the day and -25 C at night.
The forecast for Nazko is for -30 C today and -31 C tonight, then -26 C Thursday during the day and -29 C at night.
READ MORE: School buses cancelled again in Cariboo, where coldest place in B.C. hits -48 C
editor@quesnelobserver.com
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