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A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped an intense and prolonged cold spell, with temperatures hovering in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill Below -40C

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw ten separate nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.

The deep freeze spread farther south during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.

Boxing Day was expected to bring lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Expected to Continue Through Early January

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from peak power usage levels.

This extended freeze is the result of the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. 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 with US Warmth

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw historically high temperatures for Christmas as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May rather than the end of December.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. 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 abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.

The warmth has been fuelled by a powerful high-altitude ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.