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

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced over two straight weeks of nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The bitter chill extended its reach south through Christmas week. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

Boxing Day was expected to bring lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Forecast to Persist For Days to Come

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue through the start of January. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of a stationary polar vortex 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 America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw historically high temperatures for Christmas as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May instead of the heart of winter.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, 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 Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, 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 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 blanketing a significant part of the landmass, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.