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Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for multiple weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, marking its chilliest December reading in half a century.

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward during the holiday season. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory over the next several days, as the system endures record-high pressure from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the Arctic vortex settling across the northern part of the continent this month, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity with US Warmth

Conversely, sections of America recorded their warmest Christmas Day on record as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. 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. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, 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 Sustains High Temperatures

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.