Individuals are clearing a slushy mixture resulting from freezing rain in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal area on Wednesday. The photo credit goes to Ivanoh Demers from CBC/Radio-Canada.
Winter has returned with force, prompting extreme weather warnings across half of Canada for the upcoming weekend. After an initially warm and dry start to winter, a polar vortex from the Arctic is colliding with a storm from Texas, causing disruptive snowstorms and bone-chilling temperatures.
In Western Canada, Environment Canada has issued extreme cold warnings for Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Manitoba. Victoria, the capital of B.C., experienced its coldest January 12 on record at -11°C, while Vancouver reached -12°C, feeling even colder with wind chill. Puntzi Mountain airport in the Cariboo region hit a staggering -48.1°C. Blowing snow led to multiple crashes in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. Alberta, after experiencing its hottest December on record, faces a brutal cold snap, with temperatures in Edmonton and Calgary expected to plummet to -40 to -48°C and wind chill values near -55°C.
Western Canada is grappling with record-breaking cold, straining resources such as the Alberta Motor Association, reporting significant wait times for roadside assistance. Saskatchewan and Manitoba are also under extreme cold warnings, with school closures and transportation disruptions.
In Eastern Canada, a major snowstorm, influenced by a Texas-originating system, is forecasted to hit Ontario and Quebec late Friday. These regions, experiencing their first snowfall of the season, anticipate 10 centimetres of snow in Toronto and heavier snowfall in Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. Environment Canada advises motorists to avoid the roads due to blizzard-like conditions reducing visibility. Toronto expects a shift to rain on Saturday, potentially worsening road conditions.
Quebec City is under a storm surge warning due to high water levels from the St. Lawrence River, increasing the risk of flooding. Nova Scotia faced a winter storm earlier in the week, causing school closures and power outages. Northern New Brunswick anticipates up to 20 centimetres of snow, while the south expects ice pellets and rain, along with elevated wind and water levels.
Jesse Wagar, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, notes the abnormal intensity and extent of these winter storms, emphasizing the need for caution. Overall, the nation braces for a weekend of challenging weather conditions.
