Brett Anderson

Potential for extreme cold outbreak in the Prairies by early February

By Brett Anderson, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

1/24/2018, 10:46:52 AM

Arctic air has retreated well to the north for the time being, but there are growing signs that a significant blast of bitterly cold, Arctic air will infiltrate the Prairies and parts of northern Ontario starting at the end of this month and into the second week of February. Temperatures may average as much as 6 to 12 degrees Celsius, below normal across the Prairies during early February.

While it will turn colder in eastern Canada starting around Feb. 2, the core of the cold will likely remain to the north and west through at least Feb. 10.

A breakdown of potential events.....

--Weak system may produce a few cm of snow across southern Alberta late Saturday.

--By Tuesday,an Arctic cold front pushes through southern Alberta and central Saskatchewan, which will signal the first initial blast of very cold air.

--There are some indications of a potential snow event for Nova Scotia and PEI Sunday night into Monday. Not a major storm, but one that could produce a light to moderate accumulation.

--Parts of Ontario and Quebec may get a period of snow or mixed precipitation Tuesday night into Wednesday as a warm front approaches. It may be too warm for snow across southwestern Ontario.

Clues to the longer range........

--Turn to colder pattern arrives in southern Ontario around Feb. 2.

--Stormier pattern from Quebec into Atlantic Canada from Jan. 30 to Feb. 4 with potential for at least two snow events, while rain favored near the coast.

--Pattern remains stormy across Atlantic Canada from Feb. 5-12 with significant snow possible away from the coast.

--Drier pattern for southwestern BC for the second and third week of February.

--Pattern also trends drier for eastern and Atlantic Canada between Feb. 12 and 19.

---------

You can also follow me for quick updates via my twitter @BrettAWX

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com

Comments

Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.

Canadian weather blog

Updated long-range weather pattern outlook

Brett Anderson - February 13, 2019, 11:55:35 AM EST

Core of cold in the West and Atlantic Canada the next 10 days.
Long-range weather pattern update

Brett Anderson - February 08, 2019, 11:19:12 AM EST

Arctic air holds firm in the West while storms threaten the East
Core of Arctic air shifts into the West as we start February

Brett Anderson - January 29, 2019, 9:56:22 AM EST

The coldest air mass of the winter for the eastern Prairies through Quebec will retreat by this weekend
Long-range weather pattern update through mid-February

Brett Anderson - January 23, 2019, 11:30:27 AM EST

Worst of winter's cold to be focused from the eastern Prairies to Ontario over the next two weeks.
Snowstorm and long range update

Brett Anderson - January 18, 2019, 8:25:13 PM EST

Blizzard headed for New Brunswick. Cold to dominate into early next week followed by more eastern storms.
Eastern snow later this week into the weekend and the latest update to the long-range pattern

Brett Anderson - January 15, 2019, 1:17:10 PM EST

Quick update on the long range and a look at the latest snowfall potential for eastern and Atlantic Canada.
Update on the eventual pattern change

Brett Anderson - January 11, 2019, 10:37:58 AM EST

Real winter begins its march southward into the Prairies then gradually east later this month into February.
Weekly long-range weather pattern update still shows significant pattern change later this month

Brett Anderson - January 09, 2019, 9:39:22 AM EST

Pattern change likely to deliver colder air into the east late this month, while the west turns drier and milder.