🔗 Share this article

Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured over two straight weeks of nights colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Expected to Continue Through Early January

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 its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.

This extended freeze is the result of the Arctic vortex settling above Canadian territory through December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded historically high temperatures for Christmas as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May instead of the heart of winter.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The warmth has been fuelled by a powerful high-altitude ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.