After hibernating through a week of bone-chilling temperatures, Regina residents experienced a welcome respite from the cold.
Saturday morning, temperatures felt like -43 degrees Celsius with the wind chill. The following day, Regina dipped to -34.9 degrees Celsius – the coldest temperature since Jan 4, 2015.
But things warmed up Monday, reaching a high of zero.
“We’re going to see some warmer, Pacific air settling into the southern prairies and that’s going to push temperatures above freezing and well above seasonal over this next week,” Global News weather specialist Tiffany Lizée said.
The warmer weather was welcomed by winter enthusiasts like those in the Regina Ski Club.
“When it’s really cold, you don’t go as fast,” Regina Ski Club president Dale Hjertaas said.
“This kind of temperature the crystals are softer, you slide more easily over them, it’s still possible to get grip, so it’s just great for cross country skiing when the weather is in that -5 to -10 range.”
The Regina Ski Club — an organization that facilitates lessons and trips for both alpine and nordic skiers – maintains several trails in Regina and the surrounding area.
While the temperatures are just right, the club needs at least 10 centimeters of snow for optimum cross-country skiing conditions.
Outdoor rinks open to public
While being outside in the -43 wind chill was uncomfortable for most, City of Regina employees spent those frigid days flooding outdoor skating rinks.
City director of parks and open spaces, Ray Morgan, said the conditions were perfect for rink building.
“It was a little crispy out there. Water was pretty much freezing coming out of the hose,” Morgan laughed.
READ MORE: Outdoor rinks now open in Regina
On Monday, the city updated its outdoor rink list and announced that approximately 60 per cent of city-maintained ice surfaces were officially ready for use.
“We have a few that are still a work in progress but by the end of the week we should have all the rinks ready to go,” Morgan added.
The city website also said that the popular Victoria Park skating rink will open Tuesday.