/

/

Extreme cold swing for North America

Polar vortex moves south
Extreme cold swing for North America

Temperatures plummet across Canada and parts of the US this weekend as an arctic blast moves through.

Cold Arctic air flows through Canada to the north of the USA at the weekend. Temperatures drop from over 30°C to lows of up to -35°C at the peak on Sunday.

Extreme drops in temperature are not unusual in the region. Arctic air rarely warms on its way south over the large land masses.

Edmonton

Winnipeg

Great Falls

Minneapolis

In Europe, on the other hand, the mild ocean waters prevent such extreme swings. The polar air warms up as it travels, alleviating the worst of the freeze.

UK weather warnings active

More on the topic

Split image showing a red-orange sunset over the sea with layered clouds on the left, and green and red aurora glowing in the night sky with silhouetted power lines and a utility pole on the right, divided by a curved white line.

Sunday 1 February 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Calmer conditions catch the eye

In the southern hemisphere, people and nature are currently groaning under the intense summer heat.

Friday 30 January 2026

40 degrees and above

Severe heat on the southern continents

Weather radar map showing widespread heavy rain across southern UK and Ireland in blue, with a central flood warning icon highlighting potential surface water flooding near Wales and southwest England.

Sunday 8 February 2026

Deluge starts the week

Flood warnings with heavy rain arriving

All weather news

This might also interest you

Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.

Friday 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands

Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.

Friday 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend

Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.

Saturday 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives