People in Swan River, Manitoba, are facing dangerous cold weather on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, but Environment and Climate Change Canada had not posted an Extreme Cold Warning for the area on its Alerts dashboard as of 9:00 a.m. CST.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast for the Swan River area warns of northwest winds gusting up to 50 km/h and wind-chill values reaching about −40 °C. Those wind-chill levels greatly increase the risk of cold injury: Manitoba Health warns that exposed skin can freeze in five to 10 minutes at such wind-chill levels.
Environment Canada issues an Extreme Cold Warning in this part of Manitoba when wind chill is expected to reach −40 °C for at least two hours. If the forecast only reaches the threshold briefly, or if an automated alerting process experiences a lag, the system may not post a formal warning even though conditions on the ground are hazardous.
The lack of a formal notice can create confusion for local organizations. The Swan Valley School Division says it generally cancels buses when air temperatures reach −35 °C (without wind chill) or when wind chills exceed −45 °C; officials and public-works staff also often use Environment Canada warnings as a trigger for broader safety measures. That reliance means the absence of an Extreme Cold Warning can complicate decisions about school transportation and outdoor work.
Residents are being urged to take precautions: wear multiple warm layers, cover exposed skin and faces, and limit time outdoors. With no alert banner on Environment Canada’s Alerts dashboard for the Swan River – Duck Mountain – Porcupine Provincial Forest region as of 9:00 a.m. CST, some people in the community may not realize how quickly frostbite or hypothermia can occur.
