Parts of GTA could feel like –30 C next week: Environment Canada

Parts of the GTA could see temperatures that feel as low as –30 C with the wind chill early next week, an Environment Canada meteorologist says. 

From Sunday to Wednesday, temperatures in Toronto "may be colder than those that have been seen the last several years," Environment Canada said on its website. 

A cold front moving across southern Ontario on Saturday is bringing along a very cold air mass, said Gerald Cheng, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. 

In Toronto last January, the coldest recorded temperature was –14 C, he said. Next week, he said overnight lows in the city could dip to –17 C on Monday and Tuesday. 

"Already it's difficult to get up sometimes in the morning during this time of the year, but the cold certainly will make it more difficult," he said. 

WATCH | Toronto shelters, warming centres reached capacity last week:

Toronto shelters, warming centres at capacity as people try to escape frigid temperatures

9 days ago

Duration 3:20

Toronto isn’t expected to see weather above freezing for the next few weeks. As a result, shelters and warming centres around the city are at capacity as people try to escape the cold. Greg Ross has more.

Factoring in wind chill, temperatures in southern Ontario could feel like between –25 C and –30 C, he said. 

Cheng said frigid temperatures are being influenced by the polar vortex, a term referring to cold air that covers the poles. The vortex will also impact parts of the U.S. in the coming days, he said.