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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with temperatures hovering in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in half a century.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of the Arctic vortex settling across the northern part of the continent this month, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Dramatic Difference to American Heat

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May instead of the heart of winter.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

High-Pressure System Drives the Heat

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.

This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.