British Columbia·Photos

Record-breaking cold freezes B.C.

Frigid conditions are relaxing their grip on B.C. — for now — as extreme cold and arctic outflow warnings have been lifted for all but the eastern edge of the province, inland sections of the North Coast and the Fraser Valley.

Weather warnings have been lifted in parts of province — for now

A frozen waterfall in Prince Rupert, on B.C.'s North Coast. (Carolina de Ryk/CBC)

Frigid conditions are relaxing their grip on B.C. — for now — as extreme cold and arctic outflow warnings have been lifted for all but the eastern edge of the province, inland sections of the North Coast and the Fraser Valley.

But temperatures are still well below seasonal averages for most areas, with the weather office warning of wind chill values near –20 C for parts of northwestern B.C. and the Fraser Valley.

Environment Canada says wind chill values of –35 C remain over the Rockies and much of eastern B.C., and while conditions may warm slightly Tuesday afternoon, the deep freeze will redevelop overnight and into Wednesday.

CBC Radio One's Daybreak North put the call out to listeners to submit photos of the frozen conditions. 

This is what British Columbians are looking at: 

Ice building up along the Skeena River, the second-longest river in B.C., located inland from the province's North Coast. (Jeanine Philippe )
This is what –40 C looks like in Dawson Creek, B.C. (Cheryl Shuman)
Light reflecting on tiny ice crystals in the air created the effect of light pillars in this view over downtown Prince George. (Torie Beram)

In the Lower Mainland, White Rock shattered a 90-year-old record as temperatures dipped to –7.5 C on Monday.

Vancouverites woke up to their coldest morning of the year on Tuesday, according to CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe, with temperatures at YVR airport down to –8 C, or –14 C with wind chill.

For some British Columbians, Tuesday's –8 C is barely chilly. But for Vancouverites, it was the coldest morning yet and follows the city's first snowfall this winter over the weekend. (Clare Hennig/CBC)

With files from The Canadian Press