The first signs of the cold season are making themselves felt on the North American continent. The first -30C of the season was recorded on October 20th in the township of Eureka, Nunavut.
In addition, at the end of October, the first winter storm shook the Canadian prairies, leaving eight inches of snow in its wake and driving snow into the air. Northern Quebec also recently experienced its first snowstorm.
The polar vortex reaches the peak of its strength
The big culprit: the polar vortex. The latter is currently gaining strength and is already well organised.
Good to know – The polar vortex is a low-pressure area in the northern hemisphere that extends from the earth’s surface into the stratosphere. It acts like a large cyclone covering the entire north pole of the earth and is the result of a large difference in solar radiation between the equator and the north pole. It generally contains the coldest air mass in the hemisphere.
His size and influence grow as the pressure in his heart eases and prepares for the return of the cold season. It usually peaks in November when it is at its strongest. It stays in this state all winter.
Cold snap in western Canada
This is just the beginning. A cold snap is also expected to send showers across western Canada over the next few days, which are first on the list. During the first week of November, maximum temperatures around -5°C or even lower are possible in the Canadian prairies.
For now, southern Ontario and Quebec would be spared from the descent of arctic air. Rising warm air from the southern United States is on the menu, at least for the next few days.