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Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with temperatures hovering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for an extended duration. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill Below -40C

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with the temperature in Mayo bottoming out at -50.4 degrees Celsius at the start of the week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

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 lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure 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 slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Dramatic Difference Compared to Stateside Temperatures

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. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring instead of the heart of winter.

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. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue on December 26th and into the weekend, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The warmth has been fuelled by a powerful high-altitude 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 blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.