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Northern Canada has been gripped by a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Prolonged Freeze Below -40C

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Expected to Continue into the New Year

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory over the next several days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from record-high energy demand.

The prolonged chill has been caused by the Arctic vortex settling across the northern part of the continent this month, which funnels frigid northern air southward. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded historically high temperatures for Christmas as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring rather than the end of December.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. 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 similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Sustains High Temperatures

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last for the remainder of the week and beyond, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread into the south-eastern states later in the week.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system over a large portion of North America, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.