Coldest U.S. Temperature of Season Recorded in Alaska

The coldest U.S. temperature of the season so far that AccuWeather meteorologists have seen was recorded in Alaska early this week.

Cold air has been locked up across the interior of Alaska since the middle of November; however, the most intense cold has been in place since Nov. 24, 2012.

"The cold really kicked in with 20- to 30-degree temperature departures on the 24th and 25th," AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews said.

A large area of high pressure has been dominating Alaska, ushering in air from the arctic and blocking any milder air from the Pacific.

"Persistent high pressure and clear skies with no marine influence have been in place. So, you put that together with the northerly latitude where this time of year there is very little sun, and north of the arctic circle there is no sun. So, it can just keep getting colder until a disturbance comes along that can bring wind and clouds," Andrews said.

Over the next two weeks, it appears that very cold air will stay put across the interior of Alaska as well as northwestern portions of Canada, including Yukon, the Northwestern Territories and northern parts of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Temperatures may be as much as 20 degrees below normal.