Second half of January looking much colder across Canada
Here’s a look at what you can expect heading into the second half of January
January is traditionally the coldest stretch of the year for just about everyone across Canada. However, the past few weeks have featured a January thaw that sent temperatures soaring above seasonal in many areas.
That thaw is largely over, and winter is striking back heading into the second half of January.
We’re seeing a transition back to a much colder and more wintry pattern for the final two weeks of the month. This will bring below-seasonal temperatures, and opportunities for fresh snow, to many communities across the country.
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January thaw giving way to winter’s return
Above-seasonal temperatures overspread much of Canada throughout the first half of January.
Vancouver hasn’t recorded any snow so far this season. Calgary just saw five consecutive days with temperatures above the freezing mark. Back east, southerly winds in southern Ontario helped push temperatures as warm as 16°C on Jan. 9.
That midwinter warmth is on its way out as a new pattern takes hold across the country through the final few weeks of the month.
Persistent ridging over Western Canada will lock-in drier conditions and above-seasonal temperatures for places like British Columbia, which is bad news for the area’s ski resorts.
These ridges over the West Coast will jut north into Alaska, setting up cross-polar flow that will allow outbreaks of Arctic air to flood south across the Prairies and into Eastern Canada.
Equally persistent troughing over the east will reinforce these below-seasonal temperatures, setting up multiple opportunities for snow across the region.
One wildcard for Eastern Canada will be the ridge of high pressure centred over the southern United States.
If this ridge attempts to fight back against the intrusions of cold air, this would set up an active storm track that could affect Ontario and Quebec beyond just clipper systems scooting in from the Prairies.