Cooler weather, smoke coming to southern Sask.

Many people were taking full advantage of the 30 C heat in parts of the province for much of the week, heading to the beach, eating lunch in the park or scurrying through the newly opened splash pads in Regina.

The Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre spray pad was busy with kids trying to stay cool Thursday afternoon. Friends Gabby Buchko and Neven Le didn’t bring their swimsuits but had fun playing on the jungle gym.

“I decided to play tag with Gabby because she’s my best friend and I like playing with her so much,” said Le.

“My favourite part is finding the different keys that you have to find,” said Buchko. “There’s little things at the top there and you have to try to find them on that play structure.”

There was lots of room at Regina Beach as those with the afternoon off took advantage of the warm weather.

“It is a great beach day today, super hot out, water is really cold so just jump in is the best way to get over it,” said Reina Jane.

“It’s actually amazing. It’s super hot. There’s no wind. It’s the best,” said Jade Kovach, who spent the afternoon tanning on the beach with friends.

According to Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang on Thursday morning, the high heat is expected to end in the evening.

“We have a cool front coming down from the north through the day … We’ll probably see it move into the southern Saskatchewan area likely through the afternoon and into the evening,” she said.

Lang said that would bring cooler temperatures — in the mid- to low 20s — for the weekend, along with wind and smoke from the northern Alberta wildfires.

“It will reduce the visibility — you will be able to see it — and it may mix down enough that it may affect air quality so people with respiratory issues and that type of thing should be prepared for that and take precautions that they need to take,” said Lang.

The last week has featured above-seasonal averages, but Lang said it wasn’t record-breaking heat.

Lucky Lake, in northern Saskatchewan, did break a heat record for Wednesday but Lang said it just squeezed past.

No power records were set with the heat, either. SaskPower said the province was shy of a power consumption record on Wednesday by 330 megawatts, which it said is quite a bit.

The next week looks pretty dry to Lang as well. She said there’s a blocking pattern stopping rain over parts of the province right now, and it’s not breaking down easily.

Lang said there is a small chance of a storm in the Regina area on Sunday, but if that came, it would be kind of hit and miss — some areas getting a lot of rain and maybe hail, with other areas getting just a few sprinkles.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Andrew Shepherd and Lisa Schick