After cold April, warmer temperatures arrive in Saskatchewan

Despite a colder-than-normal April, things are looking positive — at least weather-wise.

Environment Canada’s David Phillips spoke to the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Friday and said April in Saskatchewan was about four degrees colder than normal. But due to many restrictions in place due to COVID-19, that may not have been a bad thing.

“April in the first three weeks performed as maybe the best weather given the circumstances and things have warmed up in the last 10 days,” Phillips said.

The last month to be colder than normal was this past October.

But April ended with the mercury reaching historic highs in parts of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon reached 27 C, breaking the record of 25.6 C set in 1926.

“Back in 1939 in Regina, it got up to 31.7 (on the last day of April),” Phillips said. “It certainly was the warmest April 30 in 80 years. It broke a record in Saskatoon. Clearly the hot spots in all of Canada were certainly in southern Saskatchewan.”

The last time the mercury got that high in the province was in September.

A cold front is moving into the province Friday and Saturday but instead of bringing Arctic air, it’s bringing in a burst of Pacific air.

Phillips said that’s going to cause some showers but that might not be a bad thing, especially for farmers in central and southern Saskatchewan.

“We’re seeing winter precipitation in Saskatchewan was maybe 40 per cent of what you would normally get,” Phillips said.

But despite some rain, the rest of the spring and summer could see the mercury higher than normal.

“We think southern and central Saskatchewan will be milder than normal,” Phillips said. “We still have a little bit of back and forth, up and down but clearly nothing winter-like coming.”

The normal temperature to begin May is around 16 C.