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Northern Canada has been gripped by a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for an extended duration. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also recorded a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

The bitter chill extended its reach south through Christmas week. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

Boxing Day was expected to bring readings no higher than -20 Celsius in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Likely to Linger For Days to Come

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from peak power usage levels.

This extended freeze is the result of the Arctic vortex settling above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May instead of the heart of winter.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. 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.

Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This pattern establishes a broad area of high 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.