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Northern Canada has been gripped by a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with temperatures hovering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw ten separate nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south during the holiday season. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in readings no higher than -20 Celsius in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist Through Early January

The severe cold is forecast to persist into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages over the next several days, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of the Arctic vortex settling above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history 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 rather than the end of December.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Heat-Dome Effect Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, creating a heat-dome effect. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.