It will be 32 years since it has been this cold in Montreal… Of course, winters are cold in the city, the wind is strong, and snow accumulates on cars—much to the horror of tourists and Montrealers, even if they would never admit it.
On Saturday, the wind chill will bring the temperature down to -38°C on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
This weekend,truly freezingtemperatures will hit Montreal. That’s great, because we’ll finally get to experience the Montreal that French people describe to their friends when they return from their working holiday visas. A polar Montreal…
What is apolar vortex?
The arctic temperatures we’ll be experiencing this weekend are due to the passage of a polar vortex.
A polar vortex is a low-pressure area based on an upper-level depression and attached to the poles (North, South). The “vortex” is created by the cold air core of these areas and by the thermal (warm) anticyclone that attaches to it in return. Polar vortexes can have a radius of up to 1,000 km, and the air swirls around the center like a cyclone, hence its name.
The polar vortex,which descended from the Pole due to temperature changes in late fall, slid over the Plains to cool us down this winter…
Brrrrr…Weatherforecastfor the coming days
Saturday, January 24, 2026, the sun will shine in the morning, according to The Weather Network. The wind chill will reach -38°C. Without the wind chill, it will be -26 degrees Celsius. In the evening, the mercury will drop (or rise, depending on your point of view) to -36°C with the wind chill (the wind).
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, temperatures will rise very slowly to a very cool -31°C. This is the first time the mercury will drop this low since 1994.
A few recommendations for braving the freezing cold this weekend
Obviously, dress warmly —break out the balaclavas, big scarves, ski mittens, andthermal underwear. According to the City of Montreal, you should limit your exposure to the freezing air as much as possible.
You also risk frostbite if your hands are bare—after 5-10 minutes outside, your fingertips can freeze. The main recommendation is to spend as little time as possible outside.
We also need to protect our apartments from the cold by keeping them warm, closing shutters and curtains, and preparing for possible disruptions and power outages.
Stay warm! And have a great weekend.