Environment Canada issued a cold warning for Hay River, Northwest Territories, on March 03, 2026, as an arctic air mass brings dangerous wind chills near -50°C to the region. The alert also covers the community of Enterprise and warns that the extreme conditions will likely last until the middle of the week.
Forecasters say that while temperatures might rise slightly during the day, wind chill values will drop back down to between -50°C and -55°C tonight in some areas. Overnight lows are expected to reach around -37°C, which is significantly colder than the usual March low of -24°C for this area.
The extreme cold poses an immediate risk to public safety, as frostbite can develop on exposed skin within minutes. These conditions may also impact flight operations at the Merlyn Carter Airport and could lead to cancellations for local school bus services.
The freezing weather is expected to persist through Wednesday before the air begins to warm up slightly on Thursday, March 05, 2026. There is a 60 per cent chance of flurries forecasted for Thursday as the cold snap begins to break.
