Arctic Blast Envelops the Great White North as America Sees Hottest Christmas Ever.

An intense cold spell has seized an intense and prolonged cold spell, with readings persisting in the minus 20 to minus 40 Celsius range for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, Braeburn in the Yukon recorded -55.7C, marking its chilliest December reading since 1975.

Consecutive Nights in the Deep Minus Forties

Meanwhile, Mayo and Dawson endured 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with Mayo experiencing a low of -50.4C at the start of the week. The capital, Whitehorse, likewise saw a series of ten nights when the cold dipped under -30 Celsius.

This Arctic air mass pushed further southward over the festive period. Christmas night saw Edmonton's temperatures plummet below minus 28C.

The day after Christmas was forecast to deliver readings no higher than -20 Celsius in numerous areas, 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 its energy infrastructure faces unprecedented demand from peak power usage levels.

The lengthy cold snap originates from a stationary polar vortex above Canadian territory through 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 the US and into parts of southern Canada.

Pronounced Disparity Compared to Stateside Temperatures

Meanwhile, in a dramatic contrast, areas of the United States saw the hottest December 25th in their history 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.

Several states set Christmas Day temperature records. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached 25 degrees Celsius on Christmas, topping the prior high mark of 22 degrees established over forty years ago. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C.

Heat-Dome Effect Sustains High Temperatures

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.

This heat is being driven by a robust atmospheric ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, establishing a classic heat-dome pattern. Such a configuration results in a widespread high-pressure system across much of the continent, effectively capping warm air at lower altitudes. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, enabling abnormally high temperatures to develop.