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An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with temperatures hovering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in half a century.

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

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

December 26th was anticipated to usher in readings no higher than -20 Celsius across many regions, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Dramatic Difference with US Warmth

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw historically high temperatures for Christmas as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May instead of the heart of winter.

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

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep into the south-eastern states later in the week.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure over a large portion of North America, 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.