Deep Freeze Envelops Canada as US Records Most Unseasonably Mild Christmas Ever.
A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting between -20C and -40C for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.
Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold
Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with the temperature in Mayo bottoming out at -50.4 degrees Celsius on Monday. Whitehorse similarly reported 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.
The bitter chill extended its reach south through Christmas week. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in lows of at least -20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.
Forecast to Persist into the New Year
The severe cold is forecast to persist for the foreseeable future. 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 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. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the US and into parts of southern Canada.
Dramatic Difference Compared to Stateside Temperatures
Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw their warmest Christmas Day on record as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May rather than the end of December.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.
Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat
Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.
This heat is being driven by a robust atmospheric ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
