Deep Freeze Envelops Canada as America Sees Hottest Christmas on Record.

A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped an intense and prolonged cold spell, with temperatures hovering between -20C and -40C for an extended duration. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, its coldest December temperature since 1975.

Consecutive Nights 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 at the start of the week. Whitehorse similarly reported ten separate nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C through a wide swath, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex across the northern part of the continent this month, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Stark Contrast to American Heat

Conversely, sections of America recorded the hottest December 25th in their history as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring rather than the end of December.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Atmospheric Ridge Sustains High Temperatures

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 robust atmospheric ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.