Expect temperatures to fluctuate, says Environment Canada climatologist

The mercury has dropped after a warm weekend that saw Regina tie a record temperature on Saturday.

The overnight low for Monday night is forecast to be -20 C.

Environment Canada’s senior climatologist, David Phillips, says expect this kind of back and forth in the near future. Wednesday’s forecast calls for a high of -1 C, with the chance that temperatures could move above freezing.

“(It’s) winter wanting to hold on and spring wanting to get a foothold. Bless that Pacific air; when it comes in, it really makes you feel like winter is finished,” Phillips said during the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday.

Phillips said February should be a lot more pleasant than last year’s February, which featured bitter cold. At this time last year, the high was -22.4 C.

“There’s a few more cool spells. I don’t think the polar vortex will come back and bite you like it did in other times. We see this kind of playing out. This back and forth, up and down is the pattern. You’ll be wearing out your body changing clothes, I think,” he said.

People will also notice the increased daylight. Phillips says each day sees an added 2 1/2 minutes of it.