'Arctic Cold Wave' Hits North America... Western Canada at Minus 40 Degrees Celsius

Whistler Ski Resort, Stranded at Feels-Like Temperature of -50°C
Eastern Canada Hit by Blizzard with Strong Winds

A polar cold wave has swept across the North American continent, causing western Canadian cities to record the lowest temperatures in 50 years, while the eastern regions are experiencing heavy snow accompanied by strong winds.

On the 12th (local time), Canadian media including Canadian Press reported that the temperature in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, dropped to minus 40 degrees Celsius. This is the lowest temperature in 52 years since January 1972. In Calgary, temperatures fell to minus 36 degrees Celsius, causing partial paralysis of public transportation networks such as the city’s light rail transit, and numerous flight delays and cancellations.

Snow removal work site on a downtown road in Ottawa, Canada
Photo by AP Yonhap News

In the Whistler area near Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), a popular skiing destination, the wind chill dropped to minus 50 degrees Celsius overnight due to strong winds, leading to skiers getting stranded. Even Vancouver, which is relatively mild in Canada, saw temperatures drop to minus 13 degrees Celsius that day.

Canada’s Environment Department stated that a cold Arctic air mass has swept over the western region, bringing the cold wave, and that extreme temperatures are expected to continue at least until the 13th. Meteorological authorities forecast that temperatures in some areas could drop to minus 55 degrees Celsius. Heavy snow fell in eastern regions such as Ontario and Quebec. Major cities including the capital Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City are forecasted to receive 25 to 30 cm of snow by the 13th. Additionally, some areas in Quebec are expected to experience strong winds reaching 100 km/h, prompting warnings to prepare accordingly.

Transportation difficulties continued due to the severe weather. Major airports nationwide, including Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa International Airport, experienced flight disruptions. On Highway 91 in the southern suburbs, a 25-vehicle collision caused severe traffic congestion due to snow that fell overnight.

Most of the U.S. Continent Also Affected by Arctic Air Mass

Snow accumulated on a highway in Nebraska, USA
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 12th, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) stated, "A dangerously cold Arctic air mass has moved southward, affecting almost the entire U.S. continent," and "This air mass is expected to maintain its strength through the weekend, causing record-breaking cold in many areas." The weather service forecasted that temperatures in the northern plains would drop to between minus 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, and in the central plains between minus 15 and 30 degrees Celsius on the morning of the 13th.

The U.S. daily newspaper The New York Times (NYT) reported that about 30 million people are under winter storm warnings, mainly in the Midwest and around the Great Lakes. In most parts of the U.S., temperatures have already fallen far below average, and wind chills make it feel even colder.

In Iowa, most schools were closed that day, and all flights departing from Lincoln Airport in Nebraska were canceled due to severe winds and snow. Major highways in the area were mostly closed due to overnight snowfall. In Chicago, severe weather caused a large-scale power outage, forcing courts to close. ComEd, the company supplying electricity to the area, reported that about 79,000 homes and businesses lost power.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.