Winter takes its revenge in Canada

The winter season has well and truly begun in Canada, and much of the country – from the Western provinces to the Maritimes – is set to experience extreme winter weather conditions over the next few days, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls.

A polar vortex is ushering in Arctic air, bringing the coldest temperatures in 70 years for some areas on the Prairies.

Wind chills could reach -50 degrees Celsius! #ABwx #SKwx #MBwxhttps://t.co/i34WVmHt70

— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) January 11, 2024

Several warnings have been issued by Environment Canada for extreme weather conditions in western Canada.

In fact, British Columbia is facing brutally low temperatures, with -30 degrees Celcius felt on the north and central coasts, including northern Vancouver Island.

In the Prairie provinces, thermometers are reading as low as -40 degrees Celcius, particularly in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In northern Manitoba and the Yukon, temperatures will drop to -50 degrees Celsius with the wind chill.

In Ontario and Quebec, further snow accumulations are also expected.

In Ontario, high winds and snowfall amounts of 15 to 30 centimetres are expected over the weekend.

The coming weekend promises to be an intense one across Quebec, with a powerful winter storm, strong gusts of wind and even a little rain in some areas.

Southern Quebec and the Gaspé Peninsula will be particularly vulnerable.