Untitled Quiz

Winter in Canada

• Most of Canada has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
• Seasons last several months and have unique weather patterns.
• Changes in temperature influence clothing and activities.
• Winter officially lasts from mid-December to mid-March.
• Winter conditions can last longer depending on the region.
• Winter includes decreased daylight, cool temperatures, and increased precipitation.
• The four main types of winter precipitation are rain, freezing rain, snow, and sleet.
• Extreme cold weather alerts are issued to warn of the dangers of prolonged exposure on cold days.
• The harshest winter conditions are in the north, with temperatures averaging -30°C and colder.
• Winter temperatures can reach -40°C, not accounting for windchill.
• Wind, snow, frigid temperatures, and darkness are characteristic of northern Canada.
• The Northern Lights can be seen in Canada's northern territories.

Temperatures across Canada

• Winnipeg is one of the coldest major cities in Canada.
• Winter temperatures in Winnipeg are often below zero, with nearly 50 days averaging around -20°C.
• There is at least 1 cm of snow on the ground for nearly one third of the year in Winnipeg.
• Victoria and Vancouver have the mildest winters in Canada.
• Temperatures in Victoria and Vancouver remain at or above freezing, and rain is more common than snow.
• It rarely snows in Vancouver and Victoria, and when it does, it rarely sticks to the ground.

Winter Activities and Weather Reports

• Many Canadians enjoy winter sports like ice skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding.
• Weather reports differentiate between actual temperature and windchill.
• Windchill accounts for the cumulative effect of temperature, air speed, and humidity on how the body feels.

Winter Records

• Lowest temperature: -63°C in Snag, Yukon, February 3rd, 1947.
• Lowest windchill reading: -79°C in Kugaaruk, Nunavut, January 13th, 1975.
• Coldest month: -50.1°C in Eureka, Nunavut, February 1979.
• Greatest snowfall in 24 hours: 145 cm in Tahtsa Lake, British Columbia, February 11th, 1999.
• Heaviest hailstone: 290 g in Cedoux, Saskatchewan, August 27th, 1973.

Fun Facts

• Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital city in the world.
• Ottawa receives an annual snowfall average of 236 cm.
• The Rideau Canal freezes every winter and becomes one of the longest outdoor skating rinks.
• Quebec City hosts the Carnaval de Québec from late January to early February.
• Bonhomme, a snowman, is the official mascot of the Québec Winter Carnival since 1954.
• Québec City is home to the Hôtel de Glace, the only ice hotel in North America.
• Canada has hosted the Winter Olympics twice: Calgary in 1988 and Vancouver in 2010.
• The winter solstice, the day with the fewest hours of sunlight, occurs in December due to the Northern Hemisphere tilting away from the sun.
• Groundhog Day is on February 2nd, where it is believed that if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.