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An intense cold spell has seized 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 in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill Below -40C

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. 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 through a wide swath, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Likely to Linger For Days to Come

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon soon, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from record-high energy demand.

The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex across the northern part of the continent this month, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Stark Contrast with US Warmth

Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring rather than the end of December.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Atmospheric Ridge Sustains High Temperatures

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last for the remainder of the week and beyond, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.

This heat is being driven by a robust atmospheric ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.