We win! Coldest February on record

Congratulations Sudbury, 2015 wins for coldest February on record — ever.

According to Environment Canada meteorologist Peter Kimbell, this February is on track to being the coldest year for the city to date.

“In 1979, the mean temperature for February, that’s average of days and nights, was -17.1 C,” said Kimbell, “So far this year is beating it in spades, sitting at -19.6 C, 8.8 degrees below normal.”

Sudbury is not the only place to experience extreme cold weather this February with temperatures hitting extraordinary lows across the province. This is partly due to the jet stream being locked into a pattern with a ridge of high pressure over the West Coast up to Alaska and the Yukon. That cold air is flooding down from the Arctic over the rest of the country.

Don’t despair, despite cold spells hitting many Canadian cities, Sudbury does get an extra special mention as one of the few places breaking the record — and this pattern of cold doesn’t appear to be going anywhere for the next two weeks.

The official arrival of spring is scheduled four weeks from now, but whether or not Northern Ontario will feel its effects is up for debate.

But, as always, the days will get longer and the sun will get warmer. Even, if it may take a while.