Saskatchewan sees warmest November in more than 15 years: Meteorologist

November was quite a warm month across Western Canada.

The average temperature for Saskatoon last month was -1.6 C, making it the 16th-warmest November in the past 125 years, according to Terri Lang, an Environment Canada meteorologist.

In Regina, the temperatures last month averaged out to -2.7 C, making it the 27th-warmest November in 130 years of weather records for the Queen City.

Although the month was quite a bit warmer than usual, Lang said no temperature records were broken in either Regina or Saskatoon.

November was generally quite dry across the province, but a band across southern Saskatchewan along the Trans-Canada Highway experienced some snowstorms, Lang said.

Saskatchewan has seen a very dry fall in general, which is concerning for many farmers and ranchers who were looking for more precipitation to help with soil moisture, Lang said.

“I know some of the municipalities are probably saving some money on snow clearing, but there are some downsides to this as well,” the meteorologist explained.

But, Lang added, a significant weather system expected to move through the province on Thursday will likely bring rain to southern parts of the province and snow to the northern areas.

High winds are also expected to develop on Thursday afternoon and possibly carry on into Friday in southeastern parts of the Saskatchewan, which Lang said could cause some blowing snow and put an abrupt end to the warmer temperatures expected over the next couple of days.

It is still too soon to predict if Saskatchewan will see a white Christmas, but Lang said the chances are lower during an El Niño event like the one bringing warm air to the province this year.

Lang said an El Niño event happens when waters off the coast of South America are warmer than average. Strong El Niño events tend to bring Western Canada winters that are warmer and drier than average.

The last El Niño occurred during the winter of 2015 and 2016, Lang explained. The last three winters Western Canada has had were La Niña winters, which produce the opposite effects.