Canadians in most regions are facing extremely cold temperatures and heavy snowfall on Sunday due to a polar vortex sweeping across the country. Environment Canada has issued orange alerts for many areas, indicating severe weather conditions that could cause significant damage, disruptions, or health risks.
Record-breaking cold temperatures have been reported in Saskatchewan, with Environment Canada issuing an orange warning for most of the province. Meteorologist Brad Vrolijk highlighted the dangers of the cold, emphasizing the risk of frostbite within minutes, especially with added wind chill. Saskatoon has implemented a winter emergency response plan in response to the frigid conditions.
Ontario is expecting around 40 centimeters of snowfall, prompting officials in Hamilton, Greater Toronto Area, and Kitchener-Waterloo to advise residents to stay indoors. Despite warnings, the Ontario Provincial Police responded to over 50 car collisions in southwestern Ontario. The GTA is under an orange alert with reduced visibility and strong wind gusts, leading to the cancellation of over 60% of flights at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
In Quebec, the Canadian Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter in Côte Saint-Luc after power outages affected thousands of residents. Hydro-Québec is working to restore power, with some addresses expected to remain without power until Monday. Equipment failures and unknown causes have been cited for the outages.
Ice removal efforts at the Bay d’Espoir power plant in Newfoundland and Labrador have been successful, with divers clearing ice to restart operations. Power warnings are still in effect, and customers are urged to conserve electricity and prepare for possible rotating outages.
The Atlantic provinces continue to face challenges due to the extreme weather conditions, with residents advised to stay safe and take necessary precautions.