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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 an extended duration. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Consecutive Nights of Extreme Cold

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced sixteen nights in a row colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in readings no higher than -20 Celsius through a wide swath, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist Through Early January

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity to American Heat

Conversely, sections of America recorded their warmest Christmas Day on record as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late 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 were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

High-Pressure System Sustains High Temperatures

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.

This heat is being driven by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.