SASKATOON – Extreme cold weather warnings ended Sunday morning but not before a record-setting temperature was felt in Saskatchewan. No record was set in Saskatoon but it is expected to get a short reprieve.
Minus 35.3 was the official low in Saskatoon Saturday.
An arctic high pressure centre slid across southern Saskatchewan Saturday night leading not only to extreme cold warnings but also a new record.
Estevan, Sask. set the new low temperature record at minus 36.2. The old record had been minus 32.8 which was set in 1910.
Many areas in the province saw the mercury bottom out near the minus forties, including Nipawin, Sask. at minus 39.7 and minus 39.1 in Meadow Lake, Sask.
“We saw a minus 41.1 at Prince Albert, without the high chill, that was their straight air temperature, luckily not a lot wind with that,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Mark Melsness.
READ MORE: Extreme cold expected this weekend across Saskatchewan
Fortunately, much milder air is on the way.
“We’re tracking a low pressure system, it’s forming up in the territories and diving southeastward so we’re already seeing temperatures starting to warm up throughout the Prairies,” said Melsness.
Saskatoon is expected to see a high of zero on Monday.
“Temperatures are basically on the upswing for Saskatchewan throughout the day, tonight and looking at high temperatures around zero for many areas tomorrow,” said Melsness.
According to Environment Canada, there’s a 60 per cent chance of flurries on Monday morning in Saskatoon.
“There’s some possible for Saskatoon, it looks like the bulk of any snow that comes with this system will be a little off to the east, just light amounts of snow,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Mark Melsness.
“One thing that I should mention though is the southwest winds ahead of that warm front tonight, probably be a fair bit of drifting and blowing snow out on the highways … especially say going down toward Highway 11 and on the TransCanada.”
READ MORE: Felt like -50 with wind chill in Saskatoon Sunday morning
The warm-up will be somewhat short-lived for those in the Bridge City.
“Another cold front comes through, it looks like on Monday night, so it will have some relatively brisk north winds on it, it shouldn’t cause too much blowing snow but it will turn colder and then we’re looking at,” said Melsness.
“Just to further complicate matters, a low tracking down from Alberta on Tuesday that will start spreading some snow southwestern Saskatchewan, possibly touching Saskatoon.”
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