Arctic Blast Envelops the Great White North as US Records Warmest Christmas on Record.

Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with temperatures hovering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in half a century.

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced 16 consecutive nights colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw 10 nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

The bitter chill extended its reach south through Christmas week. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Expected to Continue For Days to Come

The severe cold is forecast to persist for the foreseeable future. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from peak power usage levels.

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 slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced historically high temperatures for Christmas 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 rather than the end of December.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The warmth has been fuelled by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. 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, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.