Prolonged Chill Grips the Great White North as US Records Hottest Christmas Ever.
An intense cold spell has seized a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for an extended duration. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, representing its most frigid December day since 1975.
Enduring Chill Below -40C
In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse similarly reported 10 nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.
The deep freeze spread farther south through Christmas week. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.
Boxing Day was expected to bring minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C through a wide swath, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.
Forecast to Persist Through Early January
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages over the next several days, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.
The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.
Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced 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.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.
High-Pressure System Sustains High Temperatures
Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.
The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude 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 blanketing a significant part of the landmass, trapping warm air near the surface. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
