**** Info via Environment Canada
Upcoming cold spell for Canada
Starting on February 21 in western Canada and February 23 in eastern Canada, a cold spell is expected to sweep through the country, bringing significantly lower temperatures. In the West, temperatures could drop as much as 15 degrees below normal, while in the East, they may be up to 10 degrees below normal.
Temperature anomaly (difference from normal) forecasted from February 21 to 25.
This cold snap will come as a stark contrast to the unseasonably warm weather that much of the country has been experiencing lately. Since February 4 in western Canada and February 7 in eastern Canada (especially in Ontario and Quebec), temperatures have been 8 to 14 degrees above normal. In fact, eastern Canada has been experiencing above-normal temperatures for the past two months, except for a brief cold spell around February 3. While western Canada hasn’t been quite as warm as the East, the upcoming temperatures will still feel significantly colder by comparison.
A warm winter
It’s worth noting that these winter months (December, January, and February) have been among the warmest ever recorded in eastern Canada. With winter almost 85% complete, this cold spell won’t significantly impact that trend. The last time eastern Canada experienced such a warm December-January-February period was in 2016. On a national scale, 2016 was even warmer than 2023, with above-normal temperatures touching virtually every part of the country.
Comparison of warm December-January-February period across Canada in 2016 vs 2023.
