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An intense cold spell has seized a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with temperatures hovering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill in the Deep Minus Forties

In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through over two straight weeks of nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten 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.

Boxing Day was expected to bring lows of at least -20C across many regions, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.

Expected to Continue For Days to Come

The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory over the next several days, as the territory’s power grid comes under strain from historically high electricity consumption.

The prolonged chill has been caused by the Arctic vortex settling above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. 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.

Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw the hottest December 25th in their history as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. 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, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

High-Pressure System Fuels Warmth

Warmer-than-normal conditions are forecast to last for the remainder of the week and beyond, with abnormal warmth projected to move through the American Southeast soon.

The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a strong upper-level ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.