Deep Freeze Grips the Great White North as America Sees Warmest Christmas Ever.
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 multiple weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day since 1975.
Enduring Chill of Extreme Cold
Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured over two straight weeks of nights below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.
The bitter chill extended its reach south over the festive period. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.
The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.
Likely to Linger For Days to Come
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger through the start of January. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon over the next several days, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from historically high electricity consumption.
The prolonged chill has been caused by the Arctic vortex settling over Canada for much of December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. In the coming week, forecasts indicate this cold air will pull back northward allowing more temperate air from the Pacific to sweep across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.
Stark Contrast with US Warmth
In stark contrast, parts of the US experienced the hottest December 25th in their history as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. For numerous locations, the weather resembled a spring day in April or May than late December.
Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, exceeding the old record of 22C from 1982. Urban centers like Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina similarly saw thermometers rise past the 25C mark.
Atmospheric Ridge Drives the Heat
Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep into the south-eastern states later in the week.
The warmth has been fuelled by a robust atmospheric ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, creating a heat-dome effect. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, which holds warm air close to the ground. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, fostering the buildup of exceptional warmth.
