Deep Freeze Grips the Great White North as US Records Hottest Christmas in History.
Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.
Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties
Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.
This Arctic air mass pushed further southward over the festive period. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.
Forecast to Persist For Days to Come
This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure from peak power usage levels.
The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the US and into parts of southern Canada.
Dramatic Difference with US Warmth
Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of 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, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.
Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth
Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.
This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.
