Residents in Garden Hill, Manitoba, are preparing for a sudden drop in temperature starting Thursday evening, February 5, 2026, as wind chills are expected to reach -33°C. The cold snap follows a period of unseasonably mild weather and recent snowfall, making the change feel particularly sharp for people in the community.
The ambient temperature is forecast to fall to about -28°C. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), frostbite can develop on exposed skin within roughly 10 to 30 minutes under these wind-chill conditions.
This freezing weather adds stress to Garden Hill because the community is vulnerable to heating-fuel shortages. Garden Hill is not accessible by an all-season (permanent) road and relies on a seasonal winter road network that has been difficult to keep open during recent mild winters, constraining fuel deliveries.
The cold can also strain local power systems. In January 2026, power line failures during a similar weather transition were followed by burst pipes and forced evacuations of several families to Winnipeg. Local leaders are advising residents to limit outdoor exposure, secure backup heating where possible, and check on neighbours as the cold persists through Friday evening.
