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An intense cold spell has seized a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with readings persisting between -20C and -40C for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day since 1975.

Consecutive Nights of Extreme Cold

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The bitter chill extended its reach south through Christmas week. 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, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Forecast to Persist Through Early January

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. 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 historically high electricity consumption.

This extended freeze is the result of the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded their warmest Christmas Day on record as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May instead of the heart of winter.

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. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Heat-Dome Effect Sustains High Temperatures

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread 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 setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, trapping warm air near the surface. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.