Western Canada has been dealing with bitterly cold winter weather, bringing snow to Vancouver and creating hazardous travel conditions. If you’re hoping for the deep freeze to end soon, you may be disappointed.

The B.C. weather forecast predicts continued chilly temperatures throughout the week, with the potential for messy weather later in the month.

According to The Weather Network (TWN), the primary cause of this cold snap is the stratospheric polar vortex. “Originating from the high Arctic, this frigid air spiralled southward, gripping Western Canada in its icy hold,” TWN reported.

It is indeed icy, with multiple weather warnings issued by Environment Canada for areas across B.C., including extreme cold alerts and an Arctic outflow warning for the Whistler Valley, where wind chills are could reach -20°C.

And it’s not over yet. Another extremely cold air mass is expected to move in this weekend and linger into early next week. Mid-month, a more active Pacific jet stream may bring unsettled and messy weather. It seems like people in Western Canada will need to bundle up for the next few weeks, at least.

As for when the deep freeze will finally end, TWN predicts a gradual warming. Even into mid-February, areas near the Canada-U.S. border are expected to experience below-seasonal temperatures. So, brace yourself for a chilly month, and expect a slow thaw.

AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of Narcity’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
This article’s cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.