30°C above normal: Exceptional January warmth hits Canada's Far North

A rare, atmospheric phenomenon is underway in the Canadian Arctic as an unprecedented surge of mild air from Greenland has reached some of the highest latitudes on the planet, breaking decade-old records.

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Temperatures have risen above the freezing mark across parts of Nunavut, an extraordinary situation as this region usually faces lows near -30°C during this time of year.

Grise Fiord, Canada’s northernmost settlement, experienced an unprecedented high of 4.4°C on Jan. 5. That temperature shattered record highs not just for January, but also for February, March, and April.

Typically, Grise Fiord sees average temperatures of -27.1°C this time of year, with the first "thaw" usually not occurring until May.

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Meanwhile, Alert, Nvt., saw temperatures reach 1.8°C on Wednesday morning. This surpasses the November, February, and March records, and came close to the April record high of 2.4°C. Typically, the first temperature above freezing in Alert isn’t expected until around late May.

These extraordinary temperatures highlight a significant departure from seasonal norms in the High Arctic.

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While Nunavut experiences historic warmth, the situation in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories is starkly different. These regions remain under the grip of persistent, extreme cold, with wind chill values frequently plunging to between -40 and -50.

Cold weather warnings have been ongoing for several weeks in these areas.

WATCH: January cold hits pause before winter stages a comeback

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With files from MétéoMédia, The Weather Network’s Quebec-based sister station.