ICBC reports claim spike as Arctic outflow warnings remain in place

Arctic outflow warnings remain in place for parts of B.C. as the province continues to experience bitterly cold conditions.

The weather event refers to Arctic air that makes its way to the B.C. Interior leaking out to the B.C. coast in the form of outflow winds.

Environment Canada says the wind chill will make it feel like -20 C overnight near Whistler, B.C., and on the north and central coasts on Thursday night.

Continued extreme cold conditions in B.C. come as the provincial auto insurer reported a nearly 40 per cent spike in claims on Feb. 2 compared to the previous Sunday.

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ICBC reported 1,339 claims across B.C. on Feb. 2, compared to 1,005 on Jan. 26.

That was the first day the South Coast experienced widespread snowfall this winter, and snow remains on the ground in much of the province as temperatures remain below seasonal norms.

The provincial insurer has previously reported such spikes in insurance claims when B.C. sees snowfall, with one snowy Tuesday in November 2022 seeing a 94 per cent jump in claims compared to the prior week.

Environment Canada is warning those in areas under Arctic outflow warnings to limit time outdoors and to avoid exposed areas where the wind wind chill is the greatest.

"Frostbite and hypothermia can occur within minutes if adequate precautions are not taken when outdoors," the weather office says.