🔗 Share this article

An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in half a century.

Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward through Christmas week. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist For Days to Come

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages soon, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from record-high energy demand.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the Arctic vortex settling above Canadian territory through December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity to American Heat

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw historically high temperatures for Christmas as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May rather than the end of December.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.

The warmth has been fuelled by a strong upper-level ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, which holds warm air close to the ground. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.