Cold Weather Guidelines
July 17, 2022
Indoor Recess Guidelines: Having weather guidelines, helps us to keep our students safe. Please note that the situation for individual children may be tailored to the attire that
they are wearing on any given day. Students may be kept indoors during recess breaks if it is the opinion of the teacher that the child’s clothing is inadequate for the weather conditions.
Following are our divisional cold weather guidelines. When the temperature is -28°C or colder, indoor recess is called. Superintendents of the school divisions in Metro Winnipeg have determined that the wind chill reading used will be that from: Environment Canada @ The Forks
WIND CHILL | RISK OF FROSTBITE | OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS | WHAT TO DO |
0 to -9 | LOW | • Slight increase in discomfort. | • Dress warmly; with the outside temperature in mind. • Stay dry. |
-10 to -27 | LOW | • Uncomfortable. • Risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods without adequate protection. | • Dress in layers of warm clothing with an outer layer that is wind-resistant . • Wear a hat, mittens or insulated gloves, a scarf, neck tube or face mask and insulated, waterproof footwear. • Stay dry. Keep active. |
-28 to -39
Indoor | RISK: exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes.
Recess | • Risk of frostbite: Check face and extremities (fingers, toes, ears & nose) for numbness or whiteness. • Risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods without adequate clothing or shelter from wind and cold. | • Dress in layers of warm clothing, with an outer layer that is wind-resistant. • Cover exposed skin. • Wear a hat, mittens or insulated gloves, a scarf, neck tube or face mask and insulated, waterproof footwear. • Stay dry. Keep active. |
-40 to -47
Indoor | HIGH RISK: exposed skin can freeze in 5 to 10 minutes*
Recess | • High risk of frostbite: Check face and extremities (fingers, toes, ears & nose) for numbness or whiteness. • Risk of hypothermia if outside for long periods without adequate clothing or shelter from wind and cold . | • Dress in layers of warm clothing, with an outer layer that is wind-resistant . • Cover all exposed skin. • Wear a hat, mittens or insulated gloves, a scarf, neck tube or face mask and insulated, waterproof footwear. • Stay dry. Keep active. |
Bus Transportation: The Metro Winnipeg school divisions have adopted that school bus transportation for all school divisions in the City of Winnipeg is cancelled when:
A. If the actual temperature is –35°C (regardless of windchill) based on the 6:00 a.m. Environment Canada reading at the Forks, Winnipeg; or
B. If the wind chill reaches –45°C (regardless of air temperature) based on the 6:00 a.m. Environment Canada readings at the Forks, Winnipeg. The temperature and windchill readings can be found on the Environment Canada website. When bus transportation is cancelled in the morning, it will not resume later in the day even if weather conditions improve.
Media Announcement All major Winnipeg media outlets are contacted in the early morning and are asked that they broadcast and/or post bus cancellation information. Listen carefully to any radio announcements in this regard. The WSD website will carry this message.
School Cancellation: It is very rare for schools to be closed due to weather, but in this case, the decision to close a school is made by the Chief Superintendent/CEO. The decision to close ALL schools is made by the Chief Superintendent/CEO (or designate) in consultation with all other metro-Winnipeg area superintendents and the Board of Trustees.
If it becomes necessary for schools to be closed or to bus students home early during a school day because of severe weather conditions, the school will be contacted by telephone by a representative from the Superintendent’s Department.
Closed school announcements will be posted on the winnipegsd.ca website and broadcast by major Winnipeg media outlets.