Toronto has broken a 43-year-old temperature record for this date as an arctic air mass continues to hover over the city.
At 6 a .m. the temperature hit -21.6 C at Toronto Pearson International Airport, breaking the previous record for Feb. 23 of -19.4 C (1972).
A number of temperature records also fell elsewhere in the region with Hamilton (-25.0 C) breaking a record from 1870 and Welland (-24.1 C) topping a record from 1873.
Things aren’t going to improve anytime soon either.
According to Environment Canada, the temperature will not surpass -16 C today and the wind chill will make it feel closer to -33.
The weather agency is warning residents to dress appropriately as a result as exposed skin could freeze within 10 minutes.
“It is very uncomfortable and it can be dangerous if you are not appropriately attired,” CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said Monday morning.
An overnight low of -22 C is called for tonight before the temperature improves slightly on Tuesday with a high of -9 C forecast.
Toronto remains under both an extreme cold issued by Environment Canada and an extreme cold weather alert issued by the city.
Two 24-hour warming centres are open and increased street outreach is in effect as a result.
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