Schools in Redcliff were cancelled on Tuesday due to the cold weather ( Ross Lavigne/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Bitterly cold temperatures take hold in Medicine Hat and area

Feb 9, 2021 | 5:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT AB- As bone-chilling temperatures set foot in the hat, Hatters are having to bear the brunt.

“Just go to work, go home, that’s all I’ve been doing,” one man said.

The temperatures have been so cold, some vehicles have had enough.

Gershaw Auto has been inundated with cars that have fallen victim to Mother Nature’s freeze and can’t start.

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“There are so many different issues that can come up when it’s cold from block heaters that aren’t working so the engines don’t start. Many, many, types of fluid leaks happen when it’s cold, everything shrinks, it gets small, so then you get coolant leaks, you get oil leaks, you get transmission leaks, all those show up when it gets brutally cold,” said Gershaw Auto owner Merle Kurpjuweit.

At least half of the vehicles in his shop are the result of cold-related issues. Kurpjuweit recommends regular maintenance to prevent issues from springing up when temperatures drop.

“This is the time of year when it shows whether or not you are doing your maintenance, and whether you’ve done preventative maintenance in the fall to prepare for the winter. This is what we prepare for when we do our winterized inspections, testing the battery, testing the anti-freeze, testing for leaks and all that kind of stuff,” Kurpjuweit said.

The weather was so bone-chilling, schools were canceled at Prairie Rose School Division.

“Prairie Rose’s Inclement Weather policy directs the closure of schools when the temperature is below -40 with the wind chill at 6:00 AM. On Monday afternoon, all regions in Prairie Rose projected temperatures within this threshold for Tuesday morning. Based on this information, a decision was made to move all schools to learning from home on Tuesday, February 9th in the interest of student safety. Over the past year we have learned a lot about teaching remotely and under unpredictable circumstances. Our students now have increased access to technology resources which means learning can continue, even when the weather makes travel unsafe,” Angela Baron, spokesperson for Prairie Rose School Division.

Buses were also not running this morning for both Medicine Hat Catholic and public schools.

Both school divisions have indicated buses will run this afternoon and tomorrow as scheduled.

In other parts of the city, streets were bare as people tried to take shelter from the cold, but that was easier said than done.

“Oh yeah I got my long johns on, you bet. I wasn’t planning on being outside for very long so I’ve only got a light hoodie,” one man told CHAT News.

” The winds are really howling on 3rd street, and it’s really windy. As soon as I got out of the car I could really, really feel it,” he added.

Environment Canada says the cold temperatures are expected for the rest of the week. Extreme cold warnings are currently in effect for Medicine Hat and the surrounding area.

The Salvation Army is keeping their doors open to give people a place to stay warm. The organization operates an overnight shelter and a community resource centre so visitors can stay warm while receiving services.

“We don’t want anything to happen. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, freeze, you know end up in the hospital with frostbite,” said Captain Lorenda Dale of the Salvation Army.

The organization supplies warm winter coats, gloves, toques, and other warm winter essentials to people in the community who are without. Housing services and resources are also offered.

Environment Canada said temperatures are expected to drop to a low of minus 37 overnight on Wednesday, Feb. 10, and Thursday, Feb. 11.