(Jessie Anton/980 CJME)

By CJME News

Saskatchewan to see sudden warm temperatures over weekend

Jan 3, 2020 | 1:07 PM

Warm air blowing in from the Pacific is bringing an early January warm spell to Saskatchewan, says Environment Canada’s David Phillips.

“Across Alberta, Saskatchewan, we see this balmy kind of conditions,” Phillips told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Friday. “These are like October temperatures, not like the early part of January.”

Friday’s daytime high in Regina is forecast to be 3 C. In Saskatoon, it’s expected to be 2 C.

However, Phillips says the warm temperatures will be accompanied by strong winds, gusting between 50 kilometres per hour and 80 km/h.

Phillips said he’s expecting some parts of southern Saskatchewan will see temperature records fall, but not in Regina. On Jan. 4, 1898, the mercury rose to 5 C in the Queen City.

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“This makes winter that much shorter when you get a day like that,” Phillips said.

For the rest of the winter, he doesn’t expect an extended deep freeze.

“We think it’s certainly going to colder next week. But even it turns colder, it’s going to be more seasonal temperatures,” Phillips said. “Your normal high at this time of year should be minus-11 with a low of minus-33.”

He continued: “I think unlike last year where (the cold) stayed there for day after day, week after week, I think it’s going to be short-lived. I think that’s the character of this particular winter.”

As well, the midpoint of winter is fast approaching. Every day, there is one minute more of daylight.

Phillips says what he calls the “dead of winter” will arrive by next week.

“Next week is a period I think you should celebrate,” he said. “You can say there’s more winter behind you than there is ahead of you.”