Snowbanks line the front of Queen's Park as Toronto digs out of a major weekend snow storm on Jan. 26.Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail
Environment Canada has issued cold warnings for much of southern Ontario, saying wind chills near -40 C are expected in some areas.
The warnings cover areas between Windsor, Ont., and the Ontario border with Quebec, including the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa.
Environment Canada says Toronto could see wind chills of -30 to -35 C overnight and early Friday morning, while Ottawa and other parts of eastern Ontario will experience wind chills of -33 to -38 C.
It says people should cover up and watch out for frostbite that can develop within minutes on exposed skin.
Signs of frostbite can include colour changes on fingers and toes, pain, numbness, a tingling sensation or swelling.
The deep freeze comes as Toronto is still digging out from a record-breaking weekend storm that dumped 46 centimetres of snow at Pearson International Airport and more than 50 centimetres in parts of the city.
City officials have said it would take days to fully clear all the snow.
They acknowledged on Wednesday that many sidewalks and narrow side streets were still difficult to navigate, especially for people pushing strollers or using mobility aids.
In an update on Thursday, the city said reports of sidewalk issues had dropped in the previous 24 hours and crews are responding “quickly” to service calls.