A significant cold spell is expected to impact much of Canada this weekend, with the exception of southwest British Columbia where cherry blossoms are blooming early. Cold weather alerts have been issued from Prince Edward Island to eastern Alberta, with temperatures possibly feeling as low as -55°C in some Prairie regions due to an Arctic airmass settling in. The frigid conditions are a result of a polar vortex pushing Arctic air southward.
The cold snap is forecasted to persist throughout the weekend in various regions, including southern Ontario where a snowstorm could bring up to 30 centimeters of snow on Sunday. Eastern Alberta is expected to experience wind chills of -40°C to -45°C, while Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario are under orange alerts with wind chills ranging from -45°C to -50°C. Emergency crews in Winnipeg are facing challenges due to the extreme cold, with school closures and winter recreation disruptions.
In Eastern Canada, northwestern Ontario is warned of temperatures as low as -48°C, while southern Quebec and parts of Ontario could feel as cold as -40°C. Thunder Bay has activated its mobile warming center for those needing access to warmth. Additionally, a snowfall is anticipated in some areas, including southern Ontario, northern Quebec, and parts of Quebec, with wind chills persisting at -35°C to -50°C.
Atlantic Canada, including Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, is under yellow weather warnings, with wind chills making it feel like -30°C to -35°C. Extreme cold precautions are advised, including preparing emergency kits for possible power outages, recognizing frostbite risks, and keeping vehicles winter-ready with essentials like block heaters and extra blankets. Climate change experts emphasize that short-term cold snaps do not negate the long-term warming trend associated with climate change.
