A possibility of rainfall is expected to precede a warm couple of weeks in Northwest Saskatchewan. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW and meadowlakeNOW Staff

Weather shifting

Chance of showers Tuesday prior to potential heat wave

Jun 27, 2022 | 4:59 PM

After a rainy stretch for much of June, northwest Saskatchewan has largely sunny skies ahead.

There remain some cloudy days before summer starts to peak. Meadow Lake and the Battlefords have overcast skies Monday night, with an outside chance of showers. However, Terri Lang of Environment Canada said it’s unlikely the region will get precipitation right now and should expect it late Tuesday evening instead.

“It does look like some overnight showers into Wednesday morning,” she said. “But then it looks like everything will move away to the East.”

Both areas will have a risk of thundershowers, with precipitation possibly up to 10-20 millimetres worth.

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Following that, the northwest will get a system from the north, though it’s going to be a warmer period thanks to the amount of sunlight. Mainly sunny skies and highs around 23°C are expected Tuesday, with temperatures staying moderate until the weekend.

“Running right around seasonal temperatures right now, which is actually quite pleasant,” Lang said. “You don’t have to worry about big heat waves or anything, it’s quite tolerable.”

Then the wider region is looking at a ridge of high pressure for the long-term cast, which is expected to bump up temperatures across Western Canada by Sunday.

“It looks like it will last late into next week, possibly beyond,” Lang said. “Keep that in mind, as we may have a bit of a heat wave.”

“The long-range is showing above-average temperatures, drier than average and it’s the first time we’ve had an above-average forecast in a while. But we’ll see if that pans out. As we’ve already seen heavy thunderstorms so far.”

Fire bans unlikely to return

Thanks to the amount of moisture in recent weeks, and the possibility of a little more, municipalities have taken down restrictions on the use of fire and burning pits. Chief Neil Marsh of the Meadow Lake Fire Department told meadowlakeNOW that they’re seeing fairly low risk in the area.

“We don’t foresee any bans being put on any time soon,” he said. “We’re just trying to remain ready for any other kind of emergency situation that occurs.”

Like Marsh, Fire Chief Lindsay Holm of North Battleford said his department is also monitoring the conditions but is satisfied with there being no risk at this time. The City’s attention is also on the North Saskatchewan River, where the flow is up thanks to the amount of rain in June. Holm said any remaining runoff from Alberta could keep levels high, but dry conditions will mitigate that to an extent.

“We were a little bit concerned with the flows and spillways filled up, with lots of debris floating through, but right now we’re not expecting any flooding,” he said. “So, it’s just hot dry conditions and water levels in the river that we will have to keep assessing,”

However, Holm still recommends people exercise caution when near the shoreline.

“Those currents are still high and there not as significant as last week, but that water is still moving pretty fast,” he said. “It could change the position of the sandbar and there could be some erosion of the banks, someone could slip and fall in.”

Information on elevation levels and more for waterways in Saskatchewan are available through the Water Security Agency.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW