‘Balmy’ temperatures forecast for Regina this week

After a weekend of wintry conditions, people in Regina can expect conditions well above seasonal.

On Friday, the temperature could rise to 10 C. Historically, the average for March 6 has been -2.7 C.

“Some very balmy kind of temperatures. People are going to think about golfing or going to the garden centre,” said David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada, during the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday.

However, people should not be so quick to write off winter.

According to Phillips, Regina typically sees about 30 per cent of its annual snowfall after March 1.

“You can write the obituary on winter too early and then it comes back to haunt you. That’s what you see in March, this kind of playing back and forth. Spring wants to come on and winter wants to grab a foothold,” he said.

Phillips said it has been an easy winter, with only eight days where the temperature dropped below -20 C. Last winter, there were 26.

As well, snowfall totals are down and what’s left to come will be wet — good for farmers and gardeners but unlikely to stick around, he continued.

“I never shovel the (walkway) in March … because I say, what nature giveth can also giveth away,” he said.

Monday’s high in Regina is forecast at 2 C.