Western Canada is locked in an Arctic freeze: When will it thaw?
Extreme cold warnings span much of Western Canada as wind chills in the -30s dominate across the Prairies
It's not a classic Canadian winter if we don't see Arctic air surge out of the north, enveloping the country in periods of extreme cold. Luckily, this winter has proven to be a classic as Arctic air has seeped south, enveloping Western Canada in its icy grip.
The cold air, which extends from British Columbia through northern Ontario, has sent temperatures plunging 15-20 degrees below normal for many regions.
A ridge of high pressure over B.C. has given way to sunny skies, giving the outdoors a false appeal—but don't be fooled.
RELATED: When is the cold too cold? How extreme cold warnings are issued
Be sure to wear layers of dry clothes made from tightly woven fabrics, such as wool, and consume warm drinks and plenty of calorie-rich food if you are planning on spending time outdoors. If your clothes do happen to get wet, head indoors and change into dry clothes as soon as possible.
Frostbite can happen within minutes of having bare skin exposed to the extreme cold, resulting in severe, long-lasting damage to your body. Spending too long outdoors in the cold can also lead to hypothermia, a life-threatening condition.
Read this article by the Canadian Red Cross on everything you need to know about how to keep yourself and others safe from the extreme cold.
B.C. battles Arctic outflow
Arctic outflow warnings have been issued across parts of B.C., warning of cold temperatures paired with any icy wind flowing from the north.
Wind chills are expected to drop to -20 into Tuesday morning, raising concerns for frostbite risk for those spending time outdoors.
The Arctic outflow warning also covers the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Howe Sound, Squamish, and Whistler.
Tuesday is expected to be the coldest day of the week for Vancouver, where temperatures will plunge 8 degrees below normal. Daytime temperatures will hover around freezing, but the wind chill will make it feel like -10.
SEE ALSO: Canada’s snowiest Valentine’s Days: A love affair with winter storms
B.C., however, will be the first to see temperatures begin to rise once again, although they will still remain slightly below normal over the weekend.
Prairies stuck in an icy hold for a while yet
Extreme cold warnings are in effect for most of Alberta and Saskatchewan, extending into southwestern Manitoba.
Wind chills are forecast to reach the -30s to -40s early in the week, with another surge of Arctic air expected mid-week. This second surge of cold air will shift eastward slightly, sitting primarily over Manitoba, sending wind chills to the -20s and -30s.
This won't be the end of the Arctic air, either, as yet another surge will descend over the Prairies by the weekend, leaving the Prairies stuck in this freezing pattern for another seven days. Friday will likely be the coldest day, with daytime highs reaching near -30°C.
Calgary will be the first on the Prairies to see the cold ease next week, but the upward trend across the region will be slow, and Winnipeg will be stuck seeing daytime highs around -20°C.
Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across B.C. and the Prairies.