This will be one of those winters to remember. It doesn't appear to resemble the kind of winter that Environment Canada predicted for the 2017/2018 year at all, but it is certainly what has developed. We've already received an inordinate amount of snow to begin the accumulated winter snowpack this early in the season, though to be sure it's not unusual.

The level and depth and widespread nature of the cold is, however. Granted, we usually receive a number and even a succession of minus-20C days during the winter, but when the temperature drops to minus-30C that is really unusual. And that this cold weather will be prolonged, lasting a week, is even more unusual.

What we've been hit with -- and it's all over the land mass that we call Canada, the second-largest national land mass on Earth -- is called a polar vortex and it has spread its blanket of icy cold from the Arctic over much of North America, for the United States' territory, south of this country, is also experiencing extraordinary cold, wintry temperatures in states that don't normally shiver and shake as we do in Canada.

People are being urged by the municipality to call 311 if they see anyone living in the out-of-doors in this horribly inclement weather. Homeless shelters are ready to receive them through street outreach services.

People are being warned to be careful about frostbite because the prospects for that are fairly lively; white spots on cheeks are a giveaway. Last night the temperature plunged to minus-30C; in some areas to minus-32C. When we came down for breakfast this morning the thermometer had risen to minus-28C. By midday it is expected to be around minus-20C, but when factoring in the windchill it will feel more like minus-38C.

Ottawa Public Health advises that "At -15Celsius, the risk of hypothermia increases significantly and prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can result in severe injury and even death"; pretty sobering information. A wind chill of -25 risks frostbite substantially.

When we were younger, we just dressed for the weather and plunged ahead in minus-20C temperatures, even with a wind. We would walk briskly through the ravine for an hour or so, and the energy expended kept us warm. At our age we no longer walk at that same swift pace and the result is we don't keep warm. So, for the time that this exceedingly icy weather stays with us, we'll forbear
from our usually daily walks.

When we take our two little dogs out to the backyard, they're excited and instantly begin taunting one another to races and wrestling bouts. But it doesn't take long before their tiny paws begin to feel the sting of the cold, and then playtime moves to the indoors on these days of forest-trail abstinence.

At the nearby community of Perth, the tradition of a polar plunge is set to proceed regardless of the temperature. An average of fifty people take part in that plunge into the Tay River. Organizers of the Perth Polar Bear Plunge feel that these icy conditions shouldn't hinder the event. "The colder the air temperatures, the warmer the water feels", said one of the organizers.