Prolonged Chill Tightens Hold on the Great White North as United States Experiences Warmest Christmas in History.
An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for an extended duration. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.
Prolonged Freeze in the Deep Minus Forties
In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of 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 bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in readings no higher than -20 Celsius across many regions, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.
Forecast to Persist For Days to Come
This harsh winter weather is expected to continue through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages soon, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.
The lengthy cold snap originates from the Arctic vortex settling over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.
Dramatic Difference to American Heat
Conversely, sections of America recorded 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 rather than the end of December.
Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.
High-Pressure System Fuels Warmth
Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep into the south-eastern states later in the week.
The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a powerful high-altitude ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.
