Arctic Blast Envelops the Great White North as United States Experiences Warmest Christmas in History.
A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with thermometers lingering from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.
Prolonged Freeze in the Deep Minus Forties
Similarly, the communities of Mayo and Dawson experienced sixteen nights in a row dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C earlier this week. Whitehorse also recorded ten separate nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.
The bitter chill extended its reach south during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C through a wide swath, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec.
Forecast to Persist Through Early January
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory soon, as the system endures record-high pressure from peak power usage levels.
The prolonged chill has been caused by a stationary polar vortex above Canadian territory through December, enabling a surge of icy Arctic winds to descend. 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.
Stark Contrast Compared to Stateside Temperatures
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced historically high temperatures for Christmas 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.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. 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 similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.
Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth
Above-average warmth is expected to continue for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.
The warmth has been fuelled by a powerful high-altitude 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 across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
