Deep Freeze Tightens Hold on the Great White North as US Records Warmest Christmas Ever.
A prolonged deep freeze has enveloped a severe and lengthy Arctic outbreak, with thermometers lingering between -20C and -40C for weeks. This week, the Yukon community of Braeburn saw the mercury drop to -55.7C, representing its most frigid December day in nearly five decades.
Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties
Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights dipping under the minus 40 Celsius threshold, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also recorded 10 nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.
The deep freeze spread farther south over the festive period. On Christmas Day, overnight temperatures in Edmonton fell below -28C.
Boxing Day was expected to bring minimum temperatures of at least minus 20C in numerous areas, encompassing cities from Edmonton to Quebec.
Expected to Continue into the New Year
The severe cold is forecast to persist for the foreseeable future. There are warnings of possible electrical grid strain in Yukon territory soon, as its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from record-high energy demand.
The lengthy cold snap originates from the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of 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.
Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures
Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw historically high temperatures for Christmas as the mercury climbed roughly 15 to 30 degrees above typical averages. Across wide regions, the atmosphere was more akin to late spring than late December.
A number of states broke historical records for December 25th warmth. The capital of Oklahoma soared to 25C on Christmas Day, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina also logged readings above 25 degrees Celsius.
Heat-Dome Effect Fuels Warmth
Above-average warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead, with abnormal warmth projected to move across the southeastern US in the coming days.
The unseasonable temperatures are powered by a robust atmospheric ridge stretching from the southwestern deserts northward and eastward, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. This pattern establishes a broad area of high pressure over a large portion of North America, trapping warm air near the surface. Descending air compresses and adiabatically warms, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build.
