Extreme Cold in Northern Canada Contrasts with Record Warmth in the US on Christmas 2025
Northern Canada experienced an intense deep freeze throughout December, with temperatures plunging between -20C and -40C. The Braeburn area in Yukon recorded a frigid -55.7C, marking the coldest December temperature since 1975. Communities such as Mayo and Dawson faced 16 consecutive nights below -40C, with Mayo hitting -50.4C on Monday. Whitehorse also endured 10 nights below -30C. Edmonton's temperature dropped below -28C on Christmas Day, and Boxing Day lows are expected to remain at least -20C across Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec.
This prolonged cold snap is linked to a polar vortex anchored over Canada in December, which has allowed Arctic air to spill southward. The deep freeze has put the Yukon electric grid under heavy strain, creating possible power outages due to record-high energy demand. However, forecasts predict the chill to persist into the new year before retreating northward next week as milder Pacific air moves into the US and southern Canada.
In stark contrast, the United States recorded its warmest Christmas Day on record, with temperatures 15-30C above normal. Oklahoma City reached 25C, surpassing the previous record of 22C set in 1982. Austin, Dallas, and Charlotte also recorded temperatures above 25C. This unseasonable warmth is expected to continue through Boxing Day and beyond, driven by a strong upper-level ridge creating a heat dome over much of the continent. The warmth stems from a high-pressure ridge extending from the southwestern US toward the north and east, where sinking air compresses and heats, producing unusually warm temperatures.
