Ontario to become coldest place on Earth as temperatures plunge to -50°C

Ontario (The Uttam Hindu): Ontario is bracing for an unprecedented cold wave as meteorological agencies warn that the province is expected to become the coldest place on Earth on Friday, January 23. Temperatures are forecast to plunge to a bone-chilling -50°C (-58°F), triggering widespread weather alerts and emergency advisories.

According to climate experts, this extreme cold spell is the harshest Ontario has experienced in more than six decades. The last time temperatures fell to similar levels was on January 5, 1959, when the mercury dropped to -53.9°C, a record that remains etched in Canadian weather history.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, as frostbite can occur within minutes in such conditions. Schools, public transport services, and outdoor operations are likely to be disrupted as the polar air mass tightens its grip across the region.

Emergency services are on high alert, while shelters have been opened for vulnerable populations. Power companies have also issued warnings about potential outages due to increased demand and frozen infrastructure.

Meteorologists attribute this extreme event to a powerful Arctic blast, intensified by shifting polar jet streams. Climate scientists warn that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, underscoring the growing impact of climate instability.

Residents are advised to layer up, stay indoors, and closely follow official weather updates as Ontario prepares for one of its coldest days ever recorded.