Arctic Blast Envelops the Great White North as US Records Hottest Christmas on Record.
A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with temperatures hovering between -20C and -40C for an extended duration. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.
Consecutive Nights of Extreme Cold
In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through 16 consecutive nights colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.
The bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C across many regions, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.
Forecast to Persist For Days to Come
This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon soon, as the system endures record-high pressure from historically high electricity consumption.
The prolonged chill has been caused by a stationary polar vortex over Canada for much of December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. 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 Compared to Stateside Temperatures
Conversely, sections of America recorded their warmest Christmas Day on record as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May instead of the heart of winter.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, 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.
Heat-Dome Effect Drives the Heat
Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread 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 across much of the continent, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.
