Deep Freeze Grips the Great White North as United States Experiences Warmest Christmas in History.
Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering 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 in nearly five decades.
Enduring Chill Below -40C
Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.
The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.
The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver lows of at least -20C in numerous areas, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.
Expected to Continue For Days to Come
The severe cold is forecast to persist into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon soon, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.
The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.
Pronounced Disparity with US Warmth
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced the hottest December 25th in their history 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.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.
Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth
Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last on December 26th and into the weekend, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.
This heat is being driven by a powerful high-altitude ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, 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. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
