The northeastern United States and eastern Canada experienced frigid temperatures this weekend, with lows at record lows and conditions hazardous to health. Thermometers should gradually rise from this Sunday (05).

At the summit of Mount Washington in the US state of New Hampshire, the wind chill (which accounts for wind chill) was -78C last night, the US Weather Service (NWS) reported. ). According to the specialized site Weather Channel, the previous record for thermal sensation was -74°C.

Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States, is renowned for having one of the worst climates in the world.

In New York, where the thermometer showed -16°C in Central Park, homeless shelters were ordered not to turn anyone away. In Boston, where the temperature reached -34°C, schools closed yesterday as a precaution.

At the same time, local weather services in Maine reported a wind chill of -51C in the small town of Frenchville, which straddles the Canadian border.

The Canadian government has issued extreme cold warnings for much of Quebec and the eastern Maritime provinces, with wind chills as low as -40°C or as low as -50°C in several areas.

In Montreal, the international airport marked -29°C early in the morning and -41°C taking into account the thermal sensation, according to the meteorological services.

Yesterday’s polar cold caused record energy consumption in Quebec. Hydro Quebec has asked its customers to lower the heating a degree or two and use less hot water.

Extreme temperatures forced the organizers of the Carnaval de Québec to postpone the start of these winter festivities, despite participants being used to the cold. Initially scheduled for Friday, the start of the event has been postponed to Saturday afternoon, due to low temperatures, which can cause exposed body areas to freeze quickly.

According to the NWS, the temperature will start to rise tomorrow.

© Agence France-Presse