Polar vortex sends all 10 million square kilometers of Canada below freezing simultaneously

Canada recorded its coldest temperatures in years this week, with all 10 million kilometers of the country going below freezing at the same time.

Meteorologist Tyler Hamilton reported on Wednesday that there is a possibility that the entire country could remain below freezing temperatures for three consecutive days, a situation that he called “unheard of.”

“For every provincial capital to remain below the freezing mark, particularly Victoria, everything has to come together to hold the frigid air coast-to-coast,” Hamilton wrote. “Victoria has only spent 28 days below the freezing mark for an entire day this century, and strong winds flowing from the continental high-pressure inland will make this a reality.”

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is located on the southernmost part of Canada along the west coast.

CTV reported on Monday that parts of northern Canada reached temperatures as low as -61.4º F.

Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang told CTV that such temperatures had not been observed since March 2017. According to Lang, the astonishing temperatures are being brought on by a polar vortex moving across western Canada.

“The spinning up of the cold air up around the North Pole … deepens and strengthens in the winter because of the lack of sunshine,” Lang told CTV.

The polar vortex from Canada is expected to bring freezing, snowy conditions to U.S. states ranging from New Jersey to Texas over the next few days. Southern states such as Arkansas and Tennessee are preparing up to an inch and a half or more of snow.

The National Weather Service has cautioned that travel may be hindered by the incoming cold conditions.

“Ice accumulations and winds will likely lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches that add to the danger,” it said in a statement.