Name: Forecasters warn polar vortex could bring frigid temperatures
Uploaded: 2025-11-25T00:49:02.671Z
Duration: 5 min 55 s
Description: Forecasters say a polar vortex could push Arctic air into Western and Central Canada as early as next week, with the cold potentially spreading east. Climatologist David Phillips explains what drives the phenomenon and how long Canadians could feel its effects.

Forecasters say a polar vortex could push Arctic air into Western and Central Canada as early as next week, with the cold potentially spreading east. Climatologist David Phillips explains what drives the phenomenon and how long Canadians could feel its effects.

Ontario

Environment and Climate Change Canada climatologist Dave Phillips has warned that an early polar vortex may bring colder than normal temperatures and significant snowfall to much of western and northern Canada. Early forecasts indicate that regions including Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, the prairies, Northern Ontario, and Quebec could experience below-average temperatures in December, with the potential for the cold to persist throughout the winter.

The first major snowfall of the season has already impacted Calgary and surrounding areas, causing difficult travel conditions. While eastern Canada may see milder or near-normal temperatures, those in the west should prepare for a colder winter, which could lead to increased heating costs but also an early start for winter sports enthusiasts.

Forecasters warn polar vortex could bring frigid temperatures

So, for tips on how Canadians can prepare for a expected polar vortex, I do want to bring in Dave Phillips. He, of course, is a climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and he's good enough to join us today from Barrie, Ontario, with more on all of this. So, Dave, thank you so much for making some time for us on this very snowy Monday morning for parts of this country. Well, it is in Calgary, and it's kind of the first major snowfall of the winter. I think one centimetre in October, maybe three up to now, but Calgary's going to see about seven to ten. They're not as bad as places like Medicine Hat and Lethbridge and into southeastern, southwestern Saskatchewan. They're going to see, you're right, 10 to 15, maybe even 20 centimetres of snow, with some winds picking up. So, hey, it's tough driving. And, of course, the fact Hillary, it's Monday, so, you know, it didn't happen on the weekend, so people are commuting and getting around, and, boy, it always makes it a little tough. And, of course, the first significant snowfall of the year, it's bad wherever it is. We're just not used to it. That is for sure. A heck of a Monday morning commute for some folks in Calgary. Take us through what we're expecting over the next few hours and days. Is this something that's going to be a big dump of snow, and then it sort of moves along, or should folks in this part of the country, should they be anticipating that this might linger? No, I think it's really a hit and run. It's not a well-moist storm. It's not like taking in moisture from the Pacific. It's coming from the south. And so it's really just not an Alberta clipper, but it's just a storm that, hey, it's got some snow associated with it. It's going to hit and run. And, you know, Hillary, this is not snow that will give you the white Christmas. You're not going to ski on this snow. This is kind of like the early dress rehearsal of what we're now going to see. This is the beginning of winter for parts of southern Saskatchewan, southern Alberta. They're going to see more of it, but my sense is it's not going to be lasting snow. But, hey, it is the first tease. You want to sort of say, where is my snow shovel and my snow, my clothes, and have I put my winter tires on? It's just nature giving us a kind of a heads up. Hey, it's coming, so don't ignore it. Okay, well, all of this, and then you can't even ski or snowboard on it. What is the point? What is the fun in that? Now, Dave, polar vortex. We have now uttered those words, those dreaded words. Talk to us a little bit about that. What might we see when it comes to some of those colder temperatures in this part of the country? Well, Hillary, we are the second coldest country in the world. We are the snowiest country in the world. Winter is who we are. But yet, for Canadians, polar vortex is like swearing, you know? I mean, it is just absolutely something they don't want to hear. And, you know, you're sort of resigning to hear it and say we're going to be the dead of winter in January, February, or the end of winter. But here we are in November, a month before the official beginning of winter. We don't, Environment Canada doesn't even have its winter forecast out yet, and we're talking about polar vortex. And, yes, there's a hint there that it's coming. December looks cooler than normal. I looked at the map for our December forecast, Hillary, and it is showing for Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, across the prairies, right into Northern Ontario, into Quebec. We're showing colder than normal conditions in December as a result of the fact that we're seeing one of the earliest onslaughts of a polar vortex coming. And so it looks like it's going to be here. It's not a sure forecast, but, hey, it's I'd bet a few loonies in the fact that, hey, December is looking like it's going to be colder. Hey, it might be the white Christmas that we always want, but it's kind of an early beginning for winter in Canada. And sometimes the one thing about the polar vortex that is the worst part of it, it tends to, it's not less like a 10-day thing. It's not like two weeks of cold. It sometimes can go on for the entire winter. I remember 2014 was a bad polar vortex year, and places in Canada had their coldest winter in 38 years. So, hey, it's not something you'll want to hear at the beginning, but, hey, it is what it is. So, Dave, you mentioned there that in Environment Canada, it's so early at this point you haven't even had a chance to get your full winter forecast out. But can you give us a little tease? What do you think past December there? You talked about December, but what about as we stretch into January and February? Well, you know, Hilary, something I have not seen before in several, in a few years where you see some part, a large part of Canada is showing colder than normal. And as I say, certainly, that is the December forecast. Now, I've looked at the preliminary forecast for December, January, February, which is the three winter months. And it's showing in parts of eastern Canada a little milder than normal or near normal, but it is showing in the west a fairly cold kind of a winter. So, my sense is it's the hoary season that we have of winter. It's something we're famous for. We don't always like it, but, hey, we're forewarned and get used to it. It's also often an expensive year because you've got to pay more for your home heating bills. But those people who love winter, my gosh, the skiers, the snowmobilers, the ice fishers, hey, this is what, this is kind of gold to them. This is what they like to hear. And they get an early start on the season, this would just be absolutely music to their ears. Dave, it is always so great to speak with you. I had hoped it wouldn't be for another month or so when it comes to talking about winter. But here we are, we're already in the thick of it, so we really do appreciate having you on board with all of it. You're so welcome. Bye-bye, Hilary. Dave Phillips for us. Of course, he is a climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and he joined us today in Barrie, Ontario. Thank you.

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