A number of areas in southern Ontario set new record lows on Thursday, though London fell just 0.2C short.

London hit a low of -12.8C in the early morning hours but the record of -13C was set in 2000.

Kitchener hit a record of -16.1C, breaking the -14.3C record set in 2000.

Guelph meanwhile fell to -19.3C beating the -15.1C record set in 1987.

Elora was the one of the coldest spots in the region, falling to -20.6C, breaking a 2008 record of -16.3C.

In several eastern Ontario communities, including Kingston, Brockville and part of Ottawa, records set as far back as as the late 1800s were broken.

The record-breaking cold was the result of a frigid arctic air mass, which Environment Canada says is more typical of mid-winter, hitting the province.