Deep Freeze Grips Canada as United States Experiences Most Unseasonably Mild Christmas in History.
An intense cold spell has seized a bitter and extended period of frigid weather, with readings persisting from 20 to 40 degrees below zero for weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading in nearly five decades.
Prolonged Freeze of Extreme Cold
In addition, the locales of Mayo and Dawson suffered through 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C.
This Arctic air mass pushed further southward during the holiday season. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.
December 26th was anticipated to usher in 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
The frigid conditions are predicted to linger into the new year. Authorities have cautioned about potential power failures in the Yukon in the coming days, as the system endures record-high pressure from record-high energy demand.
The lengthy cold snap originates from 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 gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across America and reach into portions of southern Canada.
Stark Contrast with US Warmth
Conversely, sections of America recorded historically high temperatures for Christmas as readings skyrocketed 15 to 30 degrees Celsius above normal. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring instead of the heart of winter.
A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma City hit 25C on Tuesday, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.
High-Pressure System Fuels Warmth
Unseasonable heat is predicted to persist for the remainder of the week and beyond, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep across the southeastern US in the coming days.
This heat is being driven by a strong upper-level ridge reaching from the arid southwest across the continent, creating a heat-dome effect. This setup creates an extensive zone of high atmospheric pressure blanketing a significant part of the landmass, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. Sinking atmospheric air undergoes compression and additional heating, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.
