Frost greets Sask. on final day of summer, fall forecast shows mild temperatures

Frosty windshields and lawns greeted many people in Saskatchewan on the final day of summer.
 
According to Environment Canada, 24 communities in the province recorded below zero temperatures.
 
Saskatoon got down to -3 C. Environment Canada meterologist Terri Lang said this was the first killing frost this year because the mercury stayed below zero for several hours.
 
However the kick off to autumn will be warm and sunny. By Thursday, Saskatoon and Regina will see daytime temperatures in the mid 20s.
 
Other communities that fell below zero on Monday night:

• Loon Lake
• Meadow Lake
• Spiritwood
• Prince Albert
• North Battleford
• Scott
• Kindersley
• Leader
• Elbow
• Rosthern
• Outlook
• Last Mountain
• Val Marie
• Swift Current
• Maple Creek
• Indian Head
• Moose Jaw
• Coronach
• Bratt’s Lake
• Weyburn

Mild weather ‘falling’ into Saskatchewan

There will still be snow and frost, but the forecast for Saskatchewan’s fall includes a lot of mild weather.

“This is going to be, absolutely, nature trying to make up for what some people thought was a bummer of a summer,” said David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada.

Although the warm weather may have taken its time getting here this summer, Phillips says the province saw 14 days of temperatures above 30 C, compared to six the year before. For the next week or so, mild temperatures should be sticking around.

The immediate forecast shows daily highs rising above 20 C; Regina normally sees highs of 16 C this time of year.

“So we clearly see these temperatures as being a couple of degrees to maybe even 10 degrees warmer than normal,” Phillips explained. “But it’s that wall-to-wall sunshine that I just love, that Saskatchewan sunshine, no threat of frost … the good news is, though, is our forecast for October and for November into December, we’re showing for all of Saskatchewan as conditions that would be milder than normal.”

Because of the mild weather, Phillips says there’s a chance that winter could seem a bit shorter than it’s been in the last few years.

“And with El Niño and Pacific breezes and fewer Arctic breezes, I think we’ll see a, hey, a milder-than-normal winter.”