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Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for multiple weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day since 1975.

Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse similarly reported 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.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius across many regions, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger for the foreseeable future. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of a stationary polar vortex over Canada for much of December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Dramatic Difference to American Heat

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw the hottest December 25th in their history 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.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.

This heat is being driven by a robust atmospheric ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.