You have heard of a summer heat wave, but what about a winter cold wave?
Parts of Yukon are experiencing prolonged, extreme cold--with temperatures ranging from -20°C to -40°C--lasting for weeks!
The extended cold spell includes:
- Mayo recording 16 consecutive nights below -40°C, with a low of -50.4°C on Monday.
- Dawson also seeing 16 consecutive nights below -40°C.
- Whitehorse enduring 10 nights below -30°C.
- Mayo experiencing 12 days with an average temperature below -40°C since Dec. 9.
On Monday, Dec. 22, Braeburn in Yukon recorded a staggering -55.4°C. This marks the coldest temperature in Canada since January 1999, when -57°C was recorded.
Only a day later, on Dec. 23, Braeburn recorded an even colder -55.7°C. This is the coldest temperature recorded in December across Canada since 1975, when temperatures plunged to -56.7°C.
The persistent cold is due to the polar vortex remaining stationed over Northern Canada this month.
No significant warming is expected until January, with Yukon's overnight lows likely to stay between -40°C to -50°C for the remainder of this week.
We will see the Arctic break free into the rest of the country ahead of New Years Eve as the United States' record December heat finally relaxes, allowing the freezing air to rush south.
I'm not kidding when I say hotter. The cold creep into the house is noticeable.
-28 is like shorts weather, it's that noticeable.