Mild weather comes close to record high, gets cars dirty

Unseasonably warm weather tends to make plenty of people spend time outside, but some are much too busy with work to enjoy an afternoon stroll on a sunny day.

As Saskatchewan deals with a stretch of mild temperatures, more mud, slush and grime shows up on the roads.

That has Kirby Kazeil, the owner of SUDS Full Service Car Wash in Regina, preparing for plenty of customers.

While it was an average day for him Monday, he expects that to turn around quickly.

He said people tend to wait and see how the weather will be in the next few days before deciding to get a wash.

“Once the streets dry up and the forecast looks good, we’re lined up bumper to bumper starting at 8 a.m. right until 5 p.m. non-stop. The guys will barely get any kind of break on a day like that. It just doesn’t stop,” he explained.

“Those are fun days. They’re busy and we enjoy them a lot.”

The number of cars in the shop tends to depend entirely on the weather and the time of the season.

“Basically, if the streets are dry, we’re washing cars. It’s that simple. If the streets are wet or the forecast is for snow or rain, then that takes a bit of the wind out of our sails,” Kazeil said.

Still, he thinks it’s important to get your vehicle cleaned, even if you’re worried it might get dirty again.

“If you’re going to wait for the perfect day, that’s not likely going to arrive until April. You need to clean your car, especially in the winter months with the amount of salt and grime. Even for your braking system, it’s important to have your car cleaned,” he said.

Mild forecast ahead

All of that slush and mud is coming from unusually warm temperatures.

Environment Canada meteorologist Mike Russo said Regina reached a daytime high of 3.7 C on Sunday.

It was warm, but fell short of the record set in 2007. That year, the mercury rose to 4.6 C.

Russo expects mild conditions to continue, with highs in the minus-single digits.

“In fact, our overnight lows are going to be struggling to get as cold as what we normally get for daytime highs,” he said.

Generally, the temperature should reach about -11 C in the day and drop to -23 C at night.

What’s behind the warm spell? Russo said a jet stream has been positioned over the northern prairies, confining cold temperatures to the most northern regions and into the Arctic.

“I know for some people this is a bonus. Others prefer the cold temperatures and more snowfall,” Russo said.

“I know that there’s a number of areas that are lacking moisture on the ground and particularly over in southern Manitoba as you head into Saskatchewan.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Joseph Ho