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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with temperatures hovering between -20C and -40C for an extended duration. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature since 1975.

Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

The severe cold is forecast to persist through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from peak power usage levels.

This extended freeze is the result of the polar vortex remaining anchored across the northern part of the continent this month, which funnels frigid northern air southward. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May 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 were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep into the south-eastern states later in the week.

This heat is being driven by a robust atmospheric 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.