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A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped an intense and prolonged cold spell, 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.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse similarly reported 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Expected to Continue Through Early January

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. 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 over Canada for much of December, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.

Dramatic Difference Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded their warmest Christmas Day on record as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. 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. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last through Boxing Day and the days ahead, 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, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.