Key Takeaways
- Northern Canada is experiencing a prolonged and intense cold spell, with temperatures ranging from -20C to -40C for weeks.
- The cold spell has broken records, with Braeburn in the Yukon recording its coldest December temperature since 1975.
- The severe cold is forecast to persist into the new year, with officials warning of potential electricity outages in the Yukon.
- In contrast, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record, with temperatures 15-30C above the seasonal average.
- The warmth in the US is expected to continue, with unseasonable heat forecast to sweep into the south-eastern states later in the week.
Introduction to the Cold Spell
The Canadian territory has been gripped by an intense and prolonged cold spell, with temperatures hovering between -20C and -40C for weeks. This extreme cold has broken records, with Braeburn in the Yukon recording -55.7C on Tuesday, its coldest December temperature since 1975. Other areas, such as Mayo and Dawson, have endured 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with Mayo plunging to -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse has also recorded 10 nights when temperatures dropped below -30C. The deep freeze has spread farther south over the festive period, with overnight temperatures in Edmonton falling below -28C on Christmas Day.
The Spread of the Cold Spell
The severe cold has spread to other parts of Canada, with Boxing Day expected to bring lows of at least -20C across many regions, including Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec. The prolonged chill has been caused by the polar vortex remaining anchored over Canada for much of December, allowing bitter Arctic air to spill south. This has put a strain on the territory’s power grid, with officials warning that the Yukon could face electricity outages in the coming days due to record-high energy demand. The cold spell is forecast to persist into the new year, with the cold air mass expected to retreat north gradually, enabling milder Pacific air to move across the US and into parts of southern Canada.
Contrasting Weather in the US
In stark contrast to the cold spell in Canada, parts of the US experienced their warmest Christmas Day on record. Temperatures soared about 15-30C above the seasonal average, with conditions feeling more typical of April or May than late December. Several states set Christmas Day temperature records, with Oklahoma City hitting 25C on Tuesday, surpassing the previous peak of 22C set in 1982. Cities including Austin and Dallas, in Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina, were also among those that recorded temperatures above 25C. The warmth has been fuelled by a strong upper-level ridge extending from the desert south-west towards the north and east, creating a heat-dome effect.
The Cause of the Warmth
The heat-dome effect establishes a broad area of high pressure across much of the continent, trapping warm air near the surface. As air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses and heats further, allowing unusually warm temperatures to build. This pattern is expected to continue, with above-average warmth forecast to continue through Boxing Day and the days ahead. Unseasonable heat is also forecast to sweep into the south-eastern states later in the week, bringing temperatures that are more typical of spring than winter. The contrast between the cold spell in Canada and the warmth in the US is a testament to the complex and varied nature of North American weather patterns.
Implications and Forecast
The prolonged cold spell in Canada and the warmth in the US have significant implications for both countries. The cold spell has put a strain on the power grid in the Yukon, with potential electricity outages forecast in the coming days. In contrast, the warmth in the US has brought unseasonable conditions, with temperatures feeling more like spring than winter. The forecast suggests that the cold spell in Canada will persist into the new year, while the warmth in the US will continue, with unseasonable heat sweeping into the south-eastern states later in the week. As the weather patterns continue to evolve, it is essential to stay informed and up-to-date with the latest forecast to prepare for any potential disruptions or changes in the weather.
