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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting between -20C and -40C for multiple weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

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

Boxing Day was expected to bring minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C through a wide swath, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Forecast to Persist into the New Year

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory soon, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from record-high energy demand.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the Arctic vortex settling across the northern part of the continent this month, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity with US Warmth

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw historically high temperatures for Christmas 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, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

High-Pressure System Sustains High Temperatures

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.

This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level 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 over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.