In Pembroke, Ontario, on January 1, 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s hourly forecast for Pembroke shows wind chill values down to about −29 °C overnight and into the early morning, while a regional briefing noted wind chill could reach −34 °C at times — conditions that carry a significant risk of frostbite for people with prolonged exposure or insufficient clothing.
The bitter cold is the result of a polar air mass moving through the Ottawa Valley combined with steady winds that accelerate heat loss. Environment and Climate Change Canada included advisory text flagging a “Risk of Frostbite” as wind chill values approached thresholds used for extreme cold warnings in some sub-regions.
The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service says it is likely to see an increase in calls for slips, falls and respiratory problems over the holiday weekend. The Mesa Warming Centre, located at 156 John Street, is operating overnight (typically 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.) to shelter residents who have no heat.
The Renfrew County and District Health Unit advises people to cover exposed skin. Federal guidance notes that at these wind chill values exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 to 30 minutes; residents are urged to limit outdoor work or travel, check on vulnerable neighbours and seek warmth or medical attention if they experience numbness or tingling.
