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An intense cold spell has seized a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for multiple weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in half a century.

Prolonged Freeze in the Deep Minus Forties

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row colder than minus 40 degrees, with the temperature in Mayo bottoming out at -50.4 degrees Celsius on Monday. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south through Christmas week. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

Boxing Day was expected to bring lows of at least -20C through a wide swath, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist Through Early January

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages over the next several days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from record-high energy demand.

The prolonged chill has been caused by the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. 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. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Atmospheric Ridge Sustains High Temperatures

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread through the American Southeast soon.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.