Deep Freeze Grips Canada as United States Experiences Warmest Christmas on Record.
A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with temperatures hovering between -20C and -40C for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in half a century.
Consecutive Nights Below -40C
Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced sixteen nights in a row colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.
This Arctic air mass pushed further southward through Christmas week. In Edmonton, the Christmas overnight low dipped under -28 degrees Celsius.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C through a wide swath, 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 for the foreseeable future. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from record-high energy demand.
The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over America and reach into portions of southern Canada.
Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures
Conversely, sections of America recorded historically high temperatures for Christmas 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.
A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.
Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat
Above-average warmth is expected to continue for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.
The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a robust atmospheric ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, which generates a heat-dome phenomenon. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
