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

Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured over two straight weeks of nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse also recorded ten separate nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward during the holiday season. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

Boxing Day was expected to bring minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.

The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex 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 slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Stark Contrast to American Heat

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw their warmest Christmas Day on record as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late December.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last for the remainder of the week and beyond, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.

This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.