Crisp blast of Arctic air to pay most of Canada a visit this week

Winnipeg: This week is kicking off with some wild weather in Canada. We’ve got heavy snow hitting parts of the Prairies and freezing rain in Ontario. It’s definitely a wintry start!

And guess what? This is just the beginning. An Arctic air mass is making its way across the country, and it’s bringing a lot more cold with it.

Most of Canada will feel the chill, except for B.C., which is lucky enough to dodge the worst of it. So, let’s see what’s in store for the rest of the country as this cold snap rolls in.

Throughout the week, a cold air mass from Northern Canada will sweep down, affecting nearly every province. Expect frigid temperatures on the Prairies and snow squalls around the Great Lakes, plus a strong storm moving up the East Coast.

While B.C. enjoys some milder weather early in the week, a weak system might bring rain to the South Coast on Thursday. But for the Prairies, it’s going to be a tough week. Wednesday will be the coldest day, with daytime highs around -20°C and wind chills dipping into the -30s. Winnipeg is looking at a high of about -25°C on Thursday, with overnight lows plunging into the minus 30s.

In Ontario, Thursday will be the coldest day. Before that, snow squalls will hit the snowbelt regions on Wednesday, with gusty winds making things tricky. While we won’t see the crazy snowfall totals from the last big storm, there will still be significant amounts of snow and the risk of whiteouts.

As for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, a new low-pressure system is forming in the eastern U.S. and will bring widespread precipitation starting midweek. The coldest day for these regions will also be Thursday, with strong winds and heavy, wintry weather expected.

So, bundle up and stay warm, everyone! It’s going to be a chilly week ahead.