Niagara Falls, Canada – Footage filmed by X user td shows a dramatic view of the partially frozen Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side as prolonged Arctic cold grips the region.
The post accompanying the footage reads, “Nature’s Bounty. Niagara Falls today,” capturing the scene on February 2, 2026.
The video, recorded under clear blue skies, presents a slow panning view from a snowy vantage point overlooking the curved cascade. Snow and ice cover the surrounding landscape, while thick mist rises where rushing water meets the freezing air.
Horseshoe Falls, estimated at 167 feet high, appears heavily encrusted with ice along the cliffs and riverbanks. Frozen formations line the edges as the central flow of turquoise-tinted water continues to plunge over the falls. Buildings on the American side are faintly visible through the haze, with no people seen in the frame.
The conditions align with reports of an extended polar vortex and bomb cyclone that affected the United States and Canada in late January 2026. Temperatures in the Niagara region fell below -20°C, causing mist from the falls to freeze rapidly and coat nearby areas in thick ice, frost, and rime, while floating ice accumulated upstream in the Niagara River.
Despite wind chills reaching -30°C, the partial freeze drew increased visitors to the Ontario–New York border. Some described the scene as “absolutely amazing” and a “surreal ice wonderland,” even as authorities warned of slippery surfaces and hypothermia risks.
Niagara Parks noted that while the falls never completely stop, severe cold spells can create rare and striking ice formations, as observed in 2019 and 2022.
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