Prolonged Chill Envelops the Great White North as United States Experiences Hottest Christmas Ever.

Northern Canada has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for multiple weeks. A reading of -55.7 Celsius was logged in Braeburn, Yukon, on Tuesday, marking its chilliest December reading in nearly five decades.

Enduring Chill 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 experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse also recorded ten separate nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward 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 in numerous areas, from Edmonton in the west to Quebec in the east.

Likely to Linger Through Early January

This harsh winter weather is expected to continue through the start of January. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon over the next several days, as the system endures record-high pressure from peak power usage levels.

This extended freeze is the result of a stationary polar vortex above Canadian territory through December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. The frigid dome is projected to gradually withdraw north slowly, permitting warmer Pacific winds to flow over America and reach into portions of southern Canada.

Dramatic Difference to American Heat

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw their warmest Christmas Day on record as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. In many areas, conditions felt more typical of April or May rather than the end of December.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.

Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth

Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with atypical high temperatures expected to spread through the American Southeast soon.

This heat is being driven by a powerful high-altitude ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, creating a heat-dome effect. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure over a large portion of North America, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.