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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with thermometers lingering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for an extended duration. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, representing its most frigid December day since 1975.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 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 also recorded a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

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

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist Through Early January

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon in the coming days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from peak power usage levels.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through 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

Conversely, sections of America recorded 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. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Sustains High Temperatures

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist for the remainder of the week and beyond, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The warmth has been fuelled by a robust atmospheric ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.