🔗 Share this article

An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for an extended duration. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, its coldest December temperature in half a century.

Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist For Days to Come

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. 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 prolonged chill has been caused by the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Pronounced Disparity to American Heat

Conversely, sections of America recorded historically high temperatures for Christmas as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late December.

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. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

High-Pressure System Sustains High Temperatures

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread through the American Southeast soon.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.