Extreme cold has hit Canada in January, including -40 °C temperatures (which, coincidentally, is also -40 °F, and if you don't believe me, just calculate it yourself using the formula °F = °C × [9/5] + 32) in multiple regions. Accompanied by heavy snow, the weather closed down schools and caused electricity shortages, reminding everyone of nature's might.
To show you what all of that looked like, we put together a list of photos taken during this frigid spell, and if there's one thing that stands out, it's the local communities' ability to adapt and persevere in the face of even the most challenging times.
#1 It's Cold Enough In Calgary Today That I Used A Frozen Towel As A Toboggan
Image credits: BadWeatherKyle
#2 Calgary, Alberta This Morning! Hot Water Freezes Faster Than Cold Water Due To The "Mpemba Effect"!
Image credits: BadWeatherKyle
In the middle of the month, a polar vortex was sweeping in from the Arctic through the West, while a storm swirling up from Texas was wreaking havoc in the East, leaving millions of Canadians facing snowstorms or severely cold temperatures.
At one point, roughly half of the country was under extreme weather warnings.
#3 When Asked "How Cold Is It, Actually?" Show Them This
Image credits: beauman1313
#4 My Thermometer Has Bottomed Out. Actual Temperature Is -44c
Image credits: iamfromcanadaeh
#5 Just Another Day In Calgary
Image credits: lhayfron
"We've got really, really, really cold air coming down from the Arctic in the west. And then in the East, we have this really potent weather system that's coming up from the south," Jesse Wagar, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said at the time.
According to Wagar, in the wintertime, the country does get dynamic weather patterns, but these were "pretty unusual."
#6 It's So Cold At Arrowhead Tonight That The Refrigerator Is Keeping Drinks Warm
Image credits: JoePompliano
#7 Clothing Outside In Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Image credits: Musicferret
#8 It’s So Cold In Canada, It’s Snowing Up!
Image credits: purplepoppy_eater
"Some of the temperatures that we are seeing in Western Canada, not only is it incredibly cold compared to what we've seen recently, but they're record-breaking temperatures in general," Wagar added.
#9 It's This Cold In Calgary
Image credits: BadWeatherKyle
#10 Does Anyone Know If It's Cold Outside Or Something?
Image credits: --------hey--------
#11 Saturday Omfg
Image credits: VinneBabarino
However, things are changing. Above-than-normal temperatures should begin to spread into parts of Western Canada beginning Tuesday.
While we're not looking at all-time, record-breaking warmth for January, the thaw should be pretty long-lived.
#12 -50c / -58f Temperatures In Alberta, Canada And The Livestock Water Heater Can't Keep Up
Image credits: milesdmorgan
#13 -38 Degree Windchill In Winnipeg
Image credits: BeardOfThorburn
#14 Looks Like I’m Going Nowhere Today
Image credits: TrappedInSimulation
#15 The Moisture From My Breath Froze On My Glasses
Image credits: TheDonutPug
By next week, an even stronger heat signal will see daytime highs sitting above the freezing mark as we start the month of February, possibly kicking off the snowmelt for parts of the country.
#16 It's So Cold The Exhaust Fumes From The Furnace Are Freezing Up
Image credits: GlassturtleOG
#17 The House And Vehicles Held Up Pretty Well Against The Cold Until This Morning... Literally Thought It Was A Gunshot
Image credits: WheelsandWatches
#18 It's Cold Enough In Calgary Today That I Played Frisbee With My Shirt!
Image credits: BadWeatherKyle
#19 My Door Handle Froze
Image credits: mineorcs42
#20 Canada-Suffering-Cold-Winter-Pics
Image credits: BadWeatherKyle
#21 It’s Tough Being A Min Pin During Winter In Canada
Image credits: Willowpillow17
#22 Emergency Power Alert
Image credits: JoeRogansNipple
#23 Winter In Edmonton, Canada
Image credits: CrispMapleLeaf
#24 It’s Pretty Cold In Calgary, Canada. -32°c!
Image credits: aoisenshi
#25 It’s So Cold That The Inside Of My Window Is Beginning To Freeze
Image credits: Straight-Hold-4444
#26 In Case You’re Wondering How Cold It Is In Edmonton Lol
Image credits: TheLisaEvans
#27 Fast Chargers Stop Working In Yellowknife Due To Cold Weather
Image credits: Monomette
#28 Extreme Cold Warning: Record Power Use Triggers Grid Alert | Spike In Ems Calls For Cold-Related Emergencies
Image credits: hamer1234
#29 How Cold Is It In Canada? This Cold
Image credits: EVconverter
#30 You Know It’s Winter…
Image credits: stroobco
