Canada

Intense cold weather across Canada on Saturday has prompted utility companies to issue warnings to customers and airlines to delay or cancel flights.

From the Atlantic provinces through to the Prairies, residents have been hunkered down to wait out a bone-chilling cold snap, with parts of the Prairies expected to reach lows of –55 C with the wind chill.

In Ontario, wind chill temperatures in Toronto and Ottawa fell below -30 C, and warming centres in Hamilton were forced to extend hours or open new spaces due to high demand.

An official in Montreal said the occupancy rate at warming centres exceeded 90 per cent.

Calgary police said more than 140 collisions were reported across the city, with a spokesperson attributing the high number to snowy conditions.