Arctic Blast Grips Canada as United States Experiences Most Unseasonably Mild Christmas Ever.

An intense cold spell has seized a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with thermometers lingering in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for an extended duration. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded ten separate nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver lows of at least -20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Forecast to Persist For Days to Come

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages over the next several days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from record-high energy demand.

This extended freeze is the result of 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 allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Dramatic Difference Compared to Stateside Temperatures

In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May instead of the heart of winter.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, 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.