‘Arctic outflow’ brings record-breaking cold to Vancouver

So far this season, B.C.'s South Coast has escaped the winter chills the rest of Canada has been enduring, but thanks to an 'Arctic outflow' streaming down the west coast, Vancouver experienced it's coldest February 6th in over 65 years.

The temperature at Vancouver International Airport dipped down to -8.4°C on Thursday morning. According to The Weather Network, that set a new record for the day, beating out the previous one for February 6th, of -7.8°C, set back in 1948.

This 'Arctic outflow' is a winter version of what some might know as a 'squamish' — a strong flow of winds along the west coast and though the B.C. mountain valleys. Since these winds are drawing from the same frigid air that's been putting the rest of Canada into the deep freeze, it's driving temperatures far below what they're usually at for the west coast at this time of year. Vancouver typically enjoys mild afternoons and chill nights in February, but right now they're nearly 10 degrees below that.

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This cold isn't going anywhere until early next week, and to top it off, it looks like B.C.'s South Coast will be dealing with a snowstorm on Sunday or Monday. With the temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, that's potentially going to give them some significant snowfall, and frequently storms that happen under those conditions include some ice pellets and freezing rain as well.

(Photo courtesy: The Canadian Press)

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