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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 weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, its coldest December temperature since 1975.

Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south through Christmas week. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Forecast to Persist into the New Year

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages over the next several days, as the system endures record-high pressure from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from 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 slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced the hottest December 25th in their history as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May than late December.

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 similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Heat-Dome Effect Sustains High Temperatures

Above-average warmth is expected to continue for the remainder of the week and beyond, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread into the south-eastern states later in the week.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.