Canadians in various regions are currently facing extremely cold temperatures and heavy snowfall on Sunday. A polar vortex has covered a significant portion of the country in recent days, leading Environment Canada to issue orange alerts for many areas, indicating potential severe weather conditions that could cause significant damage, disruptions, or health risks.
Record-breaking cold temperatures and numerous flight cancellations are a direct result of the polar vortex impacting different parts of the country. In Saskatchewan, Environment Canada issued an orange warning for most of the province, noting that many towns have broken cold weather records. Meteorologist Brad Vrolijk emphasized the danger of the cold, mentioning that skin can freeze in a matter of minutes under such conditions, especially when combined with light winds.
Ontario is also experiencing severe weather conditions, with an anticipated snowfall of around 40 centimeters in various areas such as Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Officials have advised residents to stay indoors to ensure safety. Despite the warnings, the Ontario Provincial Police reported over 50 car collisions in southwestern Ontario.
In the Greater Toronto Area, an orange alert has been issued by Environment Canada, warning of reduced visibility and strong wind gusts up to 50 km/h. The snowstorm has caused significant disruptions, with over 60% of flights at Toronto Pearson International Airport being canceled over the weekend. The airport’s website reported that another 10% of flights were delayed.
In Quebec, the Canadian Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter in Côte Saint-Luc after thousands of residents lost power due to the cold snap. Hydro-Québec is working to restore power, with some addresses expected to regain power by Monday. Equipment failure and other unknown causes have been cited for the outages in various areas.
Efforts to remove ice at the Bay d’Espoir power plant in Newfoundland have been successful. The operation involved divers working in frigid water with air compressors to clear the ice blockage. Power warnings remain in effect in Newfoundland and Labrador, with customers advised to conserve electricity and prepare for potential rotating outages.