Intense cold in Ottawa and the valley expected to last until end of January
Those in Ottawa and the valley can expect the intense cold that has lingered over the region for much of January to continue until the end of the month, according to Environment Canada.
"We had no days below -20 prior to the first of January," says David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada. "And this month, we've had nine days where the temperature has fallen below -20."
Phillips says compared to all of last winter, the national capital region only saw five days total where the temperature dropped below -20C.
"We've had seven days already colder than the coldest moment of all of last winter," adds Phillips.
Between the intense cold that has frozen that region and this week's duping of snow, it feels as though the majority of winter has been packed into the last few weeks.
For Braydon Barr, who was setting up his ice fishing shelter on the Ottawa River Friday, this is the weather he's been waiting for.
"I actually don't find it that bad," says the 25-year-old Arnprior resident. "It was colder the last few Saturdays. It was like -30 the one morning we left."
Barr says the ice is in perfect condition, 12 to 13 inches thick where he set up camp, and planned to ice fish all afternoon Friday.
"Oh yeah, I don't mind being out in it, that's for sure," says Barr. "I actually prefer this over the warm summer to tell you the truth. Because I can dress for this but I can't dress for the summer."
In Renfrew, the recently opened skating oval at Ma-Te-Way Park was open, but only a couple skaters could be found braving the cold Friday afternoon.
"My mark is sort of maximum cold -12," says John Cooke, who turned out for a couple laps. "I might if I'm feeling brave go below that."
Cooke tells CTV News Ottawa he just purchased a new pair of skates for the first time in 20 years, and was eager to test them out.
"Well it's a beautiful day," remarked the Renfrew resident. "It's a little cold probably, more than -20 I'm sure. I might make a round or two but I probably won't make much more than that."
For those that enjoy the cold Canadian days, you are in luck, as it appears the frigid cold that has settled over the capital region will not be lifting any time soon.
"I think it's going to take another week or so," says Phillips. "I think our forecast for the rest of January is more of the same."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.