Toronto issues first extreme cold weather alert of the season

Baby, it's cold outside. After a super long summer and a mild fall, the weather's finally turned in Toronto. And today, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, the city's acting medical officer of health, issued the first extreme cold weather alert of the season.

The city sends out these warnings when temperatures are forecasted to dip below -15 C or -20 C with the windchill and advises Torontonians to take certain precautions when venturing outside and to check in on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family.

According to Toronto Public Health, these alerts "activate local services that focus on getting and keeping vulnerable residents inside. These services include additional shelter beds, notification to community agencies to relax any service restrictions, availability of transit tokens in some drop-ins, and overnight street outreach."

Now that the cold has arrived, the snow is also set to follow. Welcome to winter, Toronto.