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Northern Canada has been gripped by a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill Below -40C

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights colder than minus 40 degrees, with the temperature in Mayo bottoming out at -50.4 degrees Celsius at the start of the week. Whitehorse similarly reported a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.

The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

December 26th was anticipated to usher in readings no higher than -20 Celsius through a wide swath, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

The severe cold is forecast to persist 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.

This extended freeze is the result of the polar vortex remaining anchored across the northern part of the continent this month, which funnels frigid northern air southward. Next week, the cold air mass is expected to retreat north allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Dramatic Difference Compared to Stateside Temperatures

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. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May instead of the heart of winter.

Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

High-Pressure System Fuels Warmth

Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread into the south-eastern states later in the week.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered 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.