🔗 Share this article

Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with thermometers lingering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for multiple weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with the temperature in Mayo bottoming out at -50.4 degrees Celsius on Monday. Whitehorse similarly reported 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

Boxing Day was expected to bring minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages 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 across the northern part of the continent this month, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Stark Contrast with US Warmth

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw their warmest Christmas Day on record as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May instead of the heart of winter.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, 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 atypical high temperatures expected to spread into the south-eastern states later in the week.

This heat is being driven by a powerful high-altitude ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, creating a heat-dome effect. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system blanketing a significant part of the landmass, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.