Northern heat takes the lead as Southern Canada stays cool. What's happening?
Northern Canada is experiencing unusual warmth, while southern parts are stuck in a late-May (more December-like) chill.
As daylight stretches to 19 hours north of the 60th parallel, regions of the Northwest Territories are swiftly warming up, and it's not just because of the sun.
Fort Simpson, N.W.T., has topped 20°C every day since Saturday, with Tuesday marking the hot spot of the entire country.
While the North isn't typically known for early-summer heat, this week has been an exception.
The Northwest Territories aren't always complete strangers to heat waves, either.
Last summer, Fort Simpson reported temperatures exceeding 30°C on 13 separate days--more than most Canadians experienced all year.
Although May has not been very hot, the North has had more pleasant weather than many Southern places.
So what's happening exactly?
A fixed ridge above the Northwest Territories has helped bring warm air northward, providing relief from the chilly spring that many Canadians are still waiting for.
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Meanwhile, Southern and Eastern Canada remain under the grip of persistent low-pressure systems. On the West Coast, cooler air from the North Pacific has maintained temperatures below average.
Across parts of the Prairies and Ontario, a lingering pool of cold air is delivering some of the chilliest late-May weather seen in years.
This contrast has caused a weather divide across the country. While the North continues to experience above-seasonal temperatures, the South is still trying to shake off the chill.
Forecasters predict that the northern warmth will fade by the weekend, as southern regions begin to warm up.
However, for the time being, the most notable temperature anomalies in North America remain in Canada's North, rather than South, as many may expect.
It's an unusual pattern, but it shows how quickly the season can change depending on where you are in the country.