Prolonged Chill Grips Canada as United States Experiences Hottest Christmas in History.
An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in half a century.
Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties
Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.
The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.
The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius through a wide swath, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.
Likely to Linger Through Early January
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger for the foreseeable future. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon in the coming days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.
The prolonged chill has been caused by the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the US and into parts of southern Canada.
Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures
Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw their warmest Christmas Day on record as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring rather than the end of December.
A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.
Heat-Dome Effect Sustains High Temperatures
Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.
The warmth has been fuelled by a strong upper-level ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. 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.
