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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.

Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward over the festive period. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

Boxing Day was expected to bring lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Forecast to Persist into the New Year

The severe cold is forecast to persist into the new year. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure 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 the hottest December 25th in their history as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May rather than the end of December.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

High-Pressure System Drives the Heat

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread 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, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.