Colder weather is on its way back to Bella Coola. While recent temperatures have been hovering several degrees above average (according to Environment Canada average highs for this time of year are 3 degrees - Bella Coola has recently seen highs of above 10 degrees) this is all supposed to change over the weekend.
According to the Environment Canada forecast, this weekend will bring nightime lows of - 18 degrees by late Sunday and daytime highs are supposed to be hovering around -8.
Meanwhile, the coldest weather in years will put millions of people and animals throughout the midwestern United States at risk for hypothermia and frostbite to occur in minutes during the final days of January. People are being advised to travel with winter survival kits in their cars as the cold can be life-threatening for any person or animal without a proper way to stay warm.
Read more: Parts of Midwest colder than Antartica during deep freeze
Known as the “polar vortex,” at least six people have been killed in several states as a result of the arctic weather. Temperatures fell to -30C (-22F) in Chicago - colder than parts of Antarctica - and -37C in North Dakota.
The cold air is also being felt in much of central Canada and more is on the way, with much of the country dealing with temperatures 8 to 18 degrees colder than normal.