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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with temperatures hovering in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for an extended duration. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day since 1975.

Prolonged Freeze in the Deep Minus Forties

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. 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 readings no higher than -20 Celsius in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist For Days to Come

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from peak power usage levels.

This extended freeze is the result of the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Pronounced Disparity with US Warmth

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced historically high temperatures for Christmas as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May than late December.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Above-average warmth is expected to continue on December 26th and into the weekend, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, creating a heat-dome effect. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, trapping warm air near the surface. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.