Turbulent April ends on high note as Sask. claims title as warmest place in Canada

It’s not often Saskatchewan’s weather is the envy of Canada, but the province had bragging rights on Thursday.

According to Environment Canada, Last Mountain Lake was the hotspot in the country with a temperature of 19.1 C.

Saskatoon reached 18.1 C while Regina climbed to 16.9 C.

Spring-like conditions have been somewhat of an anomaly this April with below-normal temperatures and two big winter storms hitting the southeast area of the province.

Meteorologist Eric Dykes says we’re finally seeing a turnaround driven by an influx of warm air from the U.S.

“It’s a safe bet that spring is coming to Saskatchewan for the next week,” Dykes said. “Looking at your forecast, it looks pretty darn nice. Your normal high for this time of year is 16 C and I see more than one day — in fact quite a number — that will be reaching that or exceeding that over the next little while.”

Temperatures in Regina and Saskatoon could climb into the low 20s by the end of next week.

While the warm temperatures are overdue, Dykes isn’t ready to write winter off just yet.

He offered a reminder of how unpredictable the weather can be in May.

“Every once in a while you have this clash of warm air versus the cold air at springtime,” said Dykes.

“You get these wild fluctuations in temperatures that are especially prevalent during this time of year when Mother Nature is trying to sort out getting rid of winter and bringing in the warmer temperatures. Granted we are getting closer and closer to (spring) being a certainty as the days progress.”

One sign of spring’s arrival in the province is the opening of golf courses.

Three Saskatoon city courses — Holiday Park, Wildwood and Silverwood — offered their first rounds of the season on Friday morning.

In Regina, driving ranges at the Tor Hill, Murray and Joanne Goulet golf courses opened Friday.

Those three courses and the Lakeview Par 3 are slated to open May 7, weather permitting. The online booking system for tee times is to open Monday at 7 p.m., while tee times for the Lakeview Par 3 must be booked by calling 306-777-7370 or by visiting the course in person.