Warm temperatures remain in Sask., snow could be on the way

While snow might be hard to find throughout December in Regina, there’s still hope for a white Christmas yet.

The first part of December has brought on balmy temperatures and a lack of precipitation for most of Saskatchewan.

Environment Canada’s David Phillips noted that Regina saw high winds Sunday night, reaching up to 85 kilometres per hour, thanks to what is known as a McKenzie clipper making its way through the province. He explained it’s not like the typical Alberta clipper.

“This one is much further north, it moves faster, it doesn’t usually have much snow with it, it’s pretty dry,” Phillips explained to the 980 CJME Morning Show Monday. “It essentially hits and runs.”

Phillips said this clipper has been coming from the western part of the continent, which has led to the higher temperatures and stronger winds recently.

“It’s almost like a half-continent chinook that you’re getting,” Phillips said.

For those wishing for snow on the ground when they celebrate Christmas, Phillips said hope is not lost.

He said there is an expected cool-down, with temperatures returning to normal the week before Christmas.

“My sense is that it’s going to be a white Christmas. All you need is two centimetres of snow on the ground because we’re going to get back into some cooler air.”

Temperatures are expected to remain high in the Queen City, with above zero temperatures for the remainder of the week.