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A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in half a century.

Consecutive Nights of Extreme Cold

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

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

Expected to Continue For Days to Come

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger 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 historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the Arctic vortex settling across the northern part of the continent this month, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. 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

Conversely, sections of America recorded 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.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a robust atmospheric ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.