Toronto braces for coldest night in years from outbreak of arctic air
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Toronto could see one of its coldest nights in years as a massive blast of arctic air spreads out across Ontario and other parts of Canada.
The city’s overnight low on Friday is expected to dip to -22, the coldest it’s been since January 2019, says Environment Canada meteorologist Trudy Kidd. In Ottawa, the forecast says it’ll be closer to -29.
The daytime forecast won’t be much relief, with the wind chill expected to make it feel close to those overnight lows.
“These cold snaps can be dangerous and people want to limit their time outside, cover up and check on their vulnerable neighbours, especially the ones without reliable heat,” said Kidd.
The frigid temperatures will persist through the weekend and could be paired with some significant snowfall. Squalls were expected Thursday night into Friday off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, with more snow in Sunday’s forecast.
The cold will let up at least slightly come Monday but it’s expected to stay colder than normal through the end of the month, Kidd said.
On social media, the City of Toronto said it had dispatched extra outreach teams to encourage people to seek shelter inside. Its emergency and warming centres were either at or approaching their capacity Wednesday night, city data shows.
Forecasters say a stretched polar vortex is a driving force behind the tough stretch of winter weather settling over parts of Canada and the United States.
The polar vortex, circling high-altitude winds that act like a fast-spinning barrier to keep frigid air locked over the North Pole, every so often gets knocked off kilter by big atmospheric waves. When that happens, arctic air can spill south, raising the risk of severe winter weather.
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and large parts of Ontario and Quebec are under cold warnings.
The arctic outbreak was also set to wreak havoc on a huge stretch of the United States, including places unaccustomed to brutal winter storms. U.S. forecasters warned the damage, especially in areas set to be hit by large amounts of ice, could rival a hurricane.
The storm was expected to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas and then the worst of the weather will move east into the Deep South before heading up the coast and thumping New England with snow.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2026.
– With files from The Associated Press