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An intense cold spell has seized a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting between -20C and -40C for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold

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. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south through Christmas week. 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, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages soon, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from record-high energy demand.

The lengthy cold snap originates from 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 allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity to American Heat

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced historically high temperatures for Christmas as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May rather than the end of December.

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 also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

This heat is being driven by a powerful high-altitude ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, which holds warm air close to the ground. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.