The cold snap sweeping over Meadow Lake has broken some of the city's previous weather records. (Elliot Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Cold Snap Records

Meadow Lake sees record-breaking temperatures throughout cold snap

Jan 7, 2022 | 4:08 PM

The recent cold snap in northern Saskatchewan is going to be remembered for quite some time, especially in Meadow Lake.

Midway through the second consecutive La Niña winter, the city is enduring one of the harshest winters in its history. The heavy snowfalls and extreme temperatures that have made life so difficult for residents has also broken several records over the past week.

As the new year and the beginning of the week began, while temperatures were quite cold, they weren’t as extreme as they would soon become. On Monday, Meadow Lake reached a nighttime low of -28.3 C, and Tuesday’s lowest recorded temperature was -29.8 C. Neither of which came close to their all-time records.

On Jan. 5, temperatures would begin to drop noticeably. Wednesday’s nighttime low reached -37.7 C, which still had more room to go before challenging the day’s all-time record of -43.1 C, which was set in 1996.

From there, the extreme temperatures permeating through the region put up record-breaking numbers.

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On Thursday morning, conditions in Meadow Lake dropped to -41.9 C, breaking the previous mark of -41.1 C set back in 1966, and Friday morning’s recorded temperature of -40.8 C surpassed the city’s 1973 record of -40.0 C.

The Battlefords also saw extreme temperatures and heavy snowfall throughout the week that required public notice from Environment and Climate Change Canada. Unfortunately for weather watchers, none of the Battlefords temperatures were enough to replace any long standing records.

Drivers are advised to check the Highway Hotline and pack emergency equipment during periods of extreme conditions. (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

In an interview with meadowlakeNOW, Meteorologist Terri Lang said this year’s La Niña winter, a weather pattern that results in cooler temperatures up north and warmer temperatures in the south, is considered to be a more typical La Niña winter than the region saw last year.

“It’s turning out to be colder than average, and thankfully, snowier than average,” she said. “We do need the snow.”

Lang also mentioned people should keep in mind that the windchill is not a representation of the temperature, but it is an indicator of how quickly heat is lost from the body as a result of the winds.

“Some people confuse it and say, the temperature is -40 C, and the windchill is -57 C, then think it’s -57 C outside. It is not, feels like it’s like a measure of that.”

Under the extreme conditions, Lang explained frostbite damage to the body can occur in less than 10 minutes if exposed to the elements. She added people should monitor conditions every day, check the highway hotline and prepare an emergency kit for travel in case something goes awry with their transportation.

“You see people getting in the car with flip flops and a sweater on, and if something were to happen and the temperature was -40 C, and you’d be stuck in your car, it would not be good.”

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp