🔗 Share this article

A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with temperatures hovering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for an extended duration. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

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

Boxing Day was expected to bring lows of at least -20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon soon, as the system endures record-high pressure from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded 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 than late December.

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. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

High-Pressure System Drives the Heat

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last on December 26th and into the weekend, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.

This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, creating a heat-dome effect. 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. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.