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Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, its coldest December temperature since 1975.

Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw ten separate nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

The bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in lows of at least -20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger for the foreseeable future. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.

The prolonged chill has been caused by the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Dramatic Difference to American Heat

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw the hottest December 25th in their history as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring instead of the heart of winter.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last for the remainder of the week and beyond, with abnormal warmth projected to move into the south-eastern states later in the week.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, which holds warm air close to the ground. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.