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An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill Below -40C

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also recorded ten separate nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger 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 soon, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Stark Contrast 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 instead of the heart of winter.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Above-average warmth is expected to continue for the remainder of the week and beyond, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.

This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure over a large portion of North America, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.