[View the story "The big freeze: A cold snap descends on Western Canada " on Storify ]The big freeze: A cold snap descends on Western Canada Parts of Western Canada were under a deep freeze Saturday, as temperatures in cities like Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg dipped below -25 C. The cold seemed to reach its peak in Saskatchewan, where several wind chill warnings were in effect. In Regina, the mercury dropped to a bitter -42 C. Storified by CTVNews.ca · Sat, Dec 07 2013 15:47:11
If they hadn't already done so, the cold snap forced residents to haul the parkas, mitts and gloves out of the attic. Or, in some cases, borrow clothes:
It's a wee cold out. Thanks for the hat dad #brrrr #winter #cold #canada #whenincanada #manisnowba… http://t.co/UJZN7dDEHJHailey Roach
#Parka weather in #Vancouver. #CanadaGoose #brrr @ Cooper's Park http://t.co/AuAXy0JTrIElliott Chun
Some people may have been caught off-guard by the bitter cold as Canada heads into the winter season:
WHY IS IT SO COLD TODAY, CANADA!?!?!? ÷£$; $&÷($^$Anne
This -40 weather's absolutely outrageous. I hate the cold. Makes my hair dry and I get cranky. #thestruggle #CanadianProblems #canada #ehMarissa Kayleen
Whyyyy is it -43 in Edmonton!?! #sickjoke #bringmetoBC #freezing ❄️️Brittany Mock
While British Columbia wasn't as cold, residents there still had to bundle up for unseasonably low temperatures. In southeastern B.C., a wind chill warning was in effect for the Kootenay Park region, where arctic air combined with winds were expecting to push the mercury down to the -35 C mark.
Cold as in Vic today! Feels like I'm back in Alberta. #yyjrun @ Beaver Lake http://t.co/ajgCosuKEDMatt Diederichs
Fountain becomes an ice rink. #cold #canada #yvr #Vancouver #poochon #bichpoo http://t.co/DLUzopGlChLouisa Chan
“@brittianyerin: Dear Vancouver, stop complaining how "cold" -5 is. Wanna know what's cold? -40. Sincerely, Alberta.”Props to AB cuz Im dyin ashley
Others decided to make the best of the incoming winter season:
Winter in Canada, cold weather, sunshine, smiles and hot rums! Gotta' love it! #smiles #winter #coldKimberly Pflieger
#edmonton #alberta #canada #blue #sky #beautiful #view #snow #winter #trees #straight #road #blueskyJesse Brown
our guests from California and the Philippines enjoying some Canadian prairie winter!! -39 C !!! #ccf #ccfcanada #ccfla #winter #canada #saskatchewan #snowJay Juson
-29 outside? Might as well stay inside and keep working. #gamedev #edmonton #freezingEleventh Level Games
It's cold! Not for people exclusively!.. #amazing #animal #squirrel #alberta #myalberta #explorealbeta… http://t.co/9RXNUxaLzPMichael Maltsev
The weather didn't stop residents from heading outdoors:
This is what -30-ish in #Saskatchewan looks like. Almost died from Planet Hoth-esque exposure just walking from grocery store to hotel. But hey, it's sunny! Bruno tonight at 7pm? St. Albert AB tmrw at 2pm. #willyoubemywampa? #thelonelyendoftherinkGrant Lawrence
Brrrr.... #saskatchewan #saskatoonLaura
Rural Alberta - radio says -44 w/ windchill #bleak #neverendingfields #snow #cold http://t.co/wPqNoEfO1MLiisa
turns out canada being a really cold place is not just a funny myth americans believe.Nicola
The low temperatures also couldn't stop some from enjoying a dinner-hour sunset:
#Saskatchewan #sunset #snow #bales #winterTrena Forden Eskra