ADVERTISEMENT

Extreme cold has hit Canada in January, including -40 °C temperatures (which, coincidentally, is also -40 °F, and if you don't believe me, just calculate it yourself using the formula °F = °C × [9/5] + 32) in multiple regions. Accompanied by heavy snow, the weather closed down schools and caused electricity shortages, reminding everyone of nature's might.

To show you what all of that looked like, we put together a list of photos taken during this frigid spell, and if there's one thing that stands out, it's the local communities' ability to adapt and persevere in the face of even the most challenging times.

#1

It's Cold Enough In Calgary Today That I Used A Frozen Towel As A Toboggan

It's Cold Enough In Calgary Today That I Used A Frozen Towel As A Toboggan

BadWeatherKyle Report

#2

Calgary, Alberta This Morning! Hot Water Freezes Faster Than Cold Water Due To The "Mpemba Effect"!

Calgary, Alberta This Morning! Hot Water Freezes Faster Than Cold Water Due To The "Mpemba Effect"!

BadWeatherKyle Report

Add photo comments
POST
Remi (He/Him)
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember that when doing this you need to be sure it's cold enough. Someone in Finland got splashed by hot water and a bit burned, because the outside temp was too warm.

The Silly Stellar Jay
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a creative use of nature to create a mesmerizing photo. It feels like a celebration of science. Love this.

Rupp
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a real cold spell here and everyone was throwing boiling water up to watch or post videos. My wife was in the medical field and documented all the idiots seeking medical treatment for burns during this period... :-)

The Original Bruno
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TIL that it's called the Mpemba Effect, and scientists have not been able to reliably, consistently observe it. It's named for a Tanzanian high-school student, but had been previously noted by Aristotle, Bacon (Francis, not Kevin or Wilbur) and Descartes, all of whom seemed to consider it a well-known observation.

BrownTabby
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I enjoy the fact that the person who discovered it is from a country that for the most part doesn’t get snow (Kilimanjaro, etc notwithstanding). Apparently he discovered it while making ice cream at a part time job while he was at school.

Patsy Robins
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disappointing, isn’t it? It’s such a great theory 😂 Seems that SOMETIMES it can be demonstrated, but not always, which points to other variables being chiefly responsible, rather than the water temperature 🫤

Load More Replies...
Definitely a Human
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not a picture of water freezing. It's water evaporating. The humidity is so low that if you force hot water into small droplets by throwing it in an arc, it will vaporize almost instantly. Also, the Mpemba effect has never been confirmed to be real. Even if it had, it has nothing to do with what's happening here.

View more commentsArrow down menu

In the middle of the month, a polar vortex was sweeping in from the Arctic through the West, while a storm swirling up from Texas was wreaking havoc in the East, leaving millions of Canadians facing snowstorms or severely cold temperatures. 

At one point, roughly half of the country was under extreme weather warnings.

#3

When Asked "How Cold Is It, Actually?" Show Them This

When Asked "How Cold Is It, Actually?" Show Them This

beauman1313 Report

#4

My Thermometer Has Bottomed Out. Actual Temperature Is -44c

My Thermometer Has Bottomed Out. Actual Temperature Is -44c

iamfromcanadaeh Report

#5

Just Another Day In Calgary

Just Another Day In Calgary

lhayfron Report

"We've got really, really, really cold air coming down from the Arctic in the west. And then in the East, we have this really potent weather system that's coming up from the south," Jesse Wagar, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said at the time.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Wagar, in the wintertime, the country does get dynamic weather patterns, but these were "pretty unusual."

#6

Clothing Outside In Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Clothing Outside In Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Musicferret Report

#7

It's So Cold At Arrowhead Tonight That The Refrigerator Is Keeping Drinks Warm

It's So Cold At Arrowhead Tonight That The Refrigerator Is Keeping Drinks Warm

JoePompliano Report

#8

It's This Cold In Calgary

It's This Cold In Calgary

BadWeatherKyle Report

ADVERTISEMENT

"Some of the temperatures that we are seeing in Western Canada, not only is it incredibly cold compared to what we've seen recently, but they're record-breaking temperatures in general," Wagar added.

#9

Saturday Omfg

Saturday Omfg

VinneBabarino Report

#10

Looks Like I’m Going Nowhere Today

Looks Like I’m Going Nowhere Today

TrappedInSimulation Report

#11

It’s So Cold In Canada, It’s Snowing Up!

It’s So Cold In Canada, It’s Snowing Up!

purplepoppy_eater Report

ADVERTISEMENT

However, things are changing. Above-than-normal temperatures should begin to spread into parts of Western Canada beginning Tuesday.

While we're not looking at all-time, record-breaking warmth for January, the thaw should be pretty long-lived.

#12

-50c / -58f Temperatures In Alberta, Canada And The Livestock Water Heater Can't Keep Up

-50c / -58f Temperatures In Alberta, Canada And The Livestock Water Heater Can't Keep Up

milesdmorgan Report

#13

Does Anyone Know If It's Cold Outside Or Something?

Does Anyone Know If It's Cold Outside Or Something?

--------hey-------- Report

#14

-38 Degree Windchill In Winnipeg

-38 Degree Windchill In Winnipeg

BeardOfThorburn Report

#15

It's So Cold The Exhaust Fumes From The Furnace Are Freezing Up

It's So Cold The Exhaust Fumes From The Furnace Are Freezing Up

GlassturtleOG Report

By next week, an even stronger heat signal will see daytime highs sitting above the freezing mark as we start the month of February, possibly kicking off the snowmelt for parts of the country.

#16

The Moisture From My Breath Froze On My Glasses

The Moisture From My Breath Froze On My Glasses

TheDonutPug Report

#17

The House And Vehicles Held Up Pretty Well Against The Cold Until This Morning... Literally Thought It Was A Gunshot

The House And Vehicles Held Up Pretty Well Against The Cold Until This Morning... Literally Thought It Was A Gunshot

WheelsandWatches Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#18

It's Cold Enough In Calgary Today That I Played Frisbee With My Shirt!

It's Cold Enough In Calgary Today That I Played Frisbee With My Shirt!

BadWeatherKyle Report

#19

My Door Handle Froze

My Door Handle Froze

mineorcs42 Report

#20

Canada-Suffering-Cold-Winter-Pics

Canada-Suffering-Cold-Winter-Pics

BadWeatherKyle Report

#21

Emergency Power Alert

Emergency Power Alert

JoeRogansNipple Report

#22

It’s Tough Being A Min Pin During Winter In Canada

It’s Tough Being A Min Pin During Winter In Canada

Willowpillow17 Report

#23

Winter In Edmonton, Canada

Winter In Edmonton, Canada

CrispMapleLeaf Report

#24

It’s Pretty Cold In Calgary, Canada. -32°c!

It’s Pretty Cold In Calgary, Canada. -32°c!

aoisenshi Report

Add photo comments
POST
#25

In Case You’re Wondering How Cold It Is In Edmonton Lol

In Case You’re Wondering How Cold It Is In Edmonton Lol

TheLisaEvans Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

It’s So Cold That The Inside Of My Window Is Beginning To Freeze

It’s So Cold That The Inside Of My Window Is Beginning To Freeze

Straight-Hold-4444 Report

#27

Fast Chargers Stop Working In Yellowknife Due To Cold Weather

Fast Chargers Stop Working In Yellowknife Due To Cold Weather

Monomette Report

#28

Extreme Cold Warning: Record Power Use Triggers Grid Alert | Spike In Ems Calls For Cold-Related Emergencies

Extreme Cold Warning: Record Power Use Triggers Grid Alert | Spike In Ems Calls For Cold-Related Emergencies

hamer1234 Report

#29

How Cold Is It In Canada? This Cold

How Cold Is It In Canada? This Cold

EVconverter Report

#30

You Know It’s Winter…

You Know It’s Winter…

stroobco Report