Deep Freeze Grips Canada as US Records Most Unseasonably Mild Christmas Ever.
Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for an extended duration. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in nearly five decades.
Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold
In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of nights colder than minus 40 degrees, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.
The bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. 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 across many regions, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.
Expected to Continue into the New Year
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger 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 historically high electricity consumption.
The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored across the northern part of the continent this month, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. 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 Compared to Stateside Temperatures
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced historically high temperatures for Christmas as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late December.
A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.
Atmospheric Ridge Fuels Warmth
Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep through the American Southeast soon.
The warmth has been fuelled by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
