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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, marking its chilliest December reading in half a century.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Expected to Continue Through Early January

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon soon, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.

The prolonged chill has been caused by the Arctic vortex settling above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. 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 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. 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. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.

Heat-Dome Effect Drives the Heat

Above-average warmth is expected to continue on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move into the south-eastern states later in the week.

The warmth has been fuelled by a strong upper-level ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system blanketing a significant part of the landmass, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.