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Northern Canada has been gripped by a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for weeks. 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 of Extreme Cold

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through sixteen nights in a row below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C at the start of the week. Whitehorse also recorded ten separate 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 minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C across many regions, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.

Likely to Linger into the New Year

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue through the start of January. Officials have warned that the Yukon could face electricity outages soon, as the system endures record-high pressure from historically high electricity consumption.

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. 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.

Dramatic Difference Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Conversely, sections of America recorded historically high temperatures for Christmas as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May than late December.

A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Heat-Dome Effect Drives the Heat

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last 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 stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, creating a heat-dome effect. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, trapping warm air near the surface. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.