Prolonged Chill Grips the Great White North as America Sees Hottest Christmas on Record.
Northern Canada has been gripped by a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with readings persisting between -20C and -40C for an extended duration. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, its coldest December temperature in nearly five decades.
Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold
Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with the temperature in Mayo bottoming out at -50.4 degrees Celsius earlier this week. Whitehorse similarly reported 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 minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.
Likely to Linger For Days to Come
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory soon, as the system endures record-high pressure from historically high electricity consumption.
The prolonged chill has been caused by the polar vortex remaining anchored above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over the United States and penetrate southern Canadian regions.
Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced the hottest December 25th in their history as temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late December.
Multiple states established new Christmas temperature highs. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.
High-Pressure System Fuels Warmth
Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist on December 26th and into the weekend, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread through the American Southeast soon.
The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a robust atmospheric 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.
