Deep Freeze Grips the Great White North as America Sees Warmest Christmas Ever.
A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped an intense and prolonged cold spell, with readings persisting between -20C and -40C for multiple weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.
Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties
In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of nights colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded a series of ten nights when readings fell to minus 30 degrees or lower.
The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in readings no higher than -20 Celsius through a wide swath, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.
Expected to Continue For Days to Come
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 peak power usage levels.
The lengthy cold snap originates from the Arctic vortex settling over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over America and reach into portions of southern Canada.
Dramatic Difference with US Warmth
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May than late December.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.
High-Pressure System Fuels Warmth
Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.
This heat is being driven by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, creating a heat-dome effect. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure over a large portion of North America, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.
