Ottawa could see coldest temperature in 26 years
Ottawa's extremely cold January could reach a new level of cold Tuesday night, with potential record-breaking temperatures in the forecast.
Environment Canada is predicting temperatures will drop to between -27 C and -34 C Tuesday night, with wind chill values making it feel as cold as -40.
Wednesday morning could reach -31 C. If it does, that would be Ottawa's coldest temperature in 26 years.
"This is about as frigid and as snowy as it possibly can get in the Ottawa area,” Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips told CTV News Ottawa.
“And it’s the duration of the cold that is quite headline-making. You just don’t see that length of freezing that goes on for so long.”
The weather agency has issued several extreme cold warnings this month. Phillips said there have been 11 days this month colder than the coldest moment all of last winter.
Temperatures that cold can lead to frostbite developing within minutes on exposed skin. Ottawa Public Health has issued a frostbite warning for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
However, it could be worse if conditions were windier, Phillips noted.
"Mercifully, it’s without the wind chill,” he said. “The wind chill could make it -37 because the winds are rather light. If they had been stronger it would have been flesh-freezing weather in a matter of seconds.”
The frigid temperatures will continue throughout the day Wednesday. Expect sunshine and a high of -19 C, with the wind chill making it feel more like -23 C in the afternoon. The risk of frostbite will continue throughout the day.
Phillips said there is an end in sight for the frigid temperatures: February will be seasonable or even warmer than normal.
"Seasonable is balmy compared to what you've had."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre faces backlash for comments on Jordan Peterson podcast
Some are calling attention to a comment about 'Anglo-Saxon words' that Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre made while appearing as a guest on controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson’s podcast. The term has been used by those on the far-right to differentiate white people from immigrants and people of colour.

Jason Kenney steps down after 51.4 per cent approval in leadership review
Jason Kenney quit as leader of his party, and premier of Alberta, Wednesday night after receiving a slight majority of support in his United Conservative Party leadership review.
First case of rare monkeypox in the U.S. was someone who recently travelled to Canada
A rare case of monkeypox has been confirmed in a man in Massachusetts who recently travelled to Canada, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Prince Charles and Camilla wrap up Canada visit in Northwest Territories
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are spending the final day of the royal visit in Canada's North.
Trudeau says Ottawa watching Quebec's proposed changes to language law 'carefully'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is watching 'carefully' how Quebec's Bill 96 is playing out provincially and respects the freedom of members of Parliament to protest it.
Inflation could put more Canadians at risk of going hungry, experts say
Experts and advocates anticipate that more Canadians could be at risk of going hungry as inflation continues to outpace many consumers' grocery budgets.
Four things Canadians can do to save money on their groceries during inflation
With Statistics Canada reporting a 9.7 per cent increase in food costs over the last year, Canadians are being pushed to find ways to pinch pennies at the grocery stores. Here are some ways to save.
'Suffer in silence:' Experts worry of fallout from public reaction to Amber Heard's testimony
As Johnny Depp's defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard stretches into its fifth week, experts say public reaction to Heard's testimony sends a perilous reminder that despite the 'MeToo' movement, the credibility of alleged victims of abuse can be fragile.
Red Cross registers hundreds of Ukrainian POWs from Mariupol
The Russian military said Thursday that more Ukrainian fighters who were making a last stand in Mariupol have surrendered, bringing the total who have left their stronghold to 1,730, while the Red Cross said it had registered hundreds of them as prisoners of war.