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An intense cold spell has seized a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in nearly five decades.

Consecutive Nights 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 earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver lows of at least -20C through a wide swath, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Expected to Continue For Days to Come

The severe cold is forecast to persist into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of the Arctic vortex settling over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Stark Contrast with US Warmth

Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. 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. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure over a large portion of North America, which holds warm air close to the ground. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.