(Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Nicole Reis

Mild Winter Weather

Above seasonal temperatures with freeze to follow in Meadow Lake region

Jan 31, 2020 | 1:35 PM

Temperatures are running above seasonal averages although Meadow Lake can still expect a long winter ahead.

Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada told meadowlakeNOW, we’re in for a warm weekend followed by plummeting temperatures next week.

“The jet stream is well north of the region right now sitting north of North West Territories, the jet stream is the delineator between the warm air to the south and colder air to the north,” Lang said. “When the jet stream does that, we get milder air.”

Lang said average highs this time of year are -10 C, average lows are around -22 C.

“We’re also seeing some weather systems move through on the weekend and the one weather system that we’re looking at, looks like it’s going to move through on Saturday and that is supposed to bring milder air ahead of it,” Lang said.

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The meteorologist said for Saturday evening into Sunday, winds should really pick up and the temperatures will plummet behind the mild temperatures.

Over the next couple of days, people should get out and enjoy the weather before Meadow Lake is back into more seasonal values.

Road Conditions

Lang cautioned Saturday and Sunday may present some challenges to driving.

“We’ve had a lot of challenges in the last few weeks,” she said. “When it did warm up, what happened was, we got fog and freezing drizzle and all that stuff that made a mess of roads because of the rime icing that happens, deposits on the roads.”

Lang added, when we do get a freeze cycle, along with warmer temperatures and freezing temperatures in behind, roads and sidewalks may freeze, causing quite a mess.

“We’ll probably see on Saturday night, some snow and freezing rain along with that. I think, Saturday into Sunday is really going to be a bit of a messy situation for driving,” she said.

Lang said it’s not time to put away the long underwear or shovels away quite yet, we still have a lot of winter ahead of us.

“We ask the public to always check the highway hotline before heading out so you know the road conditions to where you’re going,” Lang said. “Get prepared with toques and mitts since it’s been so mild, but we’re getting into the colder temperatures next week so we’d better be prepared for that.”

City Protocol

City Manager, Diana Burton said mild temperatures forecasted should not present significant thawing.

“When snow does start to melt, we do go around with steam machines, steaming culverts to make sure water has a way to drain away. We also steam catch basins for the storm sewer system to make sure water has a place to drain, but we’re not anticipating much melting with the temperatures forecast,” she said.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722