Residents in Hay River, Northwest Territories, are facing a week of dangerous weather as temperatures are expected to drop far below normal levels. According to Environment Canada, the community will see overnight lows near -39°C and wind chills as low as -51°C between March 1 and March 6, 2026.
The federal weather service warns that frostbite can happen in minutes at these temperatures, which are much colder than the typical March lows of -24°C. The Town of Hay River is encouraging people to stay indoors when possible, check on their neighbours, and monitor official channels for emergency alerts during the cold snap.
While the immediate concern is personal safety, the deep freeze could also impact the upcoming spring season. Experts from the Government of the Northwest Territories note that while current river levels are well below average, prolonged cold can cause river ice to become much thicker.
Thicker ice often delays the spring melt and can increase the chance of ice jams if temperatures warm up too quickly later in the year. To help the community prepare, officials recently released updated flood hazard maps on February 23, 2026, to show which areas might be at risk when the ice eventually begins to move.
