SASKATOON – After a brief warm-up mid-February, Saskatoon is headed back into the ice box.
Amidst what may be the coldest February in 18 years, there is at least one thing to cling to – meteorological spring officially starts on Saturday, but it certainly won’t feel anything like it stereotypically should.
Forecast models have been hinting that March 1st may be the coldest day Saskatoon has seen in years.
Low temperatures approaching the minus 40s with wind chills potentially into the minus 50s have a good chance at breaking that day’s low temperature record of minus 37.8 set back in 1962, which would also make it the coldest day so far this winter.
The coldest so far was on Jan. 6 at minus 36.8.
If temperatures drop below minus 38 on Saturday will be the coldest day Saskatoon has seen since hitting minus 41.4 on Jan. 4, 2009.
Regardless, anyone heading out this weekend should bundle up as wind chill values in the minus 50s can cause exposed skin to freeze in two to five minutes.
This winter, Saskatoon has seen 57 days with wind chills below minus 30, which is over half of the average of 33 days.
Those getting fed up with the cold can be comforted by knowing that Winnipeg, often referred to as “Winterpeg”, has seen 73 days with wind chills below minus 30.
The first week of March is shaping up to kick off quite cold with temperatures eventually moderating by the end of the week.
It’s the second week of next month where Saskatoon really starts to see spring kick in as the mercury climbs up towards seasonal for a bit of a stretch.
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