‘Today is like a gift’: Saskatchewan gets break from frigid winter temperatures

The province woke up to completely different weather for the first time in a long time.

After enduring the cold temperatures that hovered near the -40 C mark for much of the last few weeks, the majority of Saskatchewan saw temperatures back down to single digits Tuesday.

Mary Leys said she can’t wait to get out with her family now that the reasonable weather has arrived.

“It’s really awesome to have the nice weather and no wind, and just to be out and be safe,” Leys said.

There will be an expected surge of cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and outdoor hockey rinks will be flooded with games of shinny.

It hasn’t been the easiest winter to endure with cold temperatures, current restrictions and everything else in between. For Rita Couture, Tuesday’s weather is the ultimate blessing.

“We’ve been locked up due to the cold and COVID. Today is like a gift to us in Saskatchewan,” Couture said.

On this day 15 years ago, Saskatoon and the majority of the province suffered one of the most memorable winter storms in history.

Environment Canada reported 36 centimetres of snow on Jan. 10th, 2007 in Saskatoon. The snowfall shattered the old record by enormous amounts. The previous record in the Bridge City was just 10.2 centimetres from 1938.

Terri Lang is a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada and explains just how impactful the 2007 winter storm was.

“Certainly a large low pressure system across the prairies. I think the real kicker was the wind that came along with it. (It) quickly reduced visibility down to near zero with blizzard-like conditions.”

Many people were stranded in certain buildings for hours and hours, while some had to spend the night until it was safe enough to make the drive home.

Fast forward to now, Lang says this system will hang around for some time for people to enjoy.

“We’re in for some very, very nice conditions finally after a couple weeks there in the deep freeze.”

“Temperatures getting near the freezing mark today and Wednesday. Little bit of a system coming in Thursday bringing some snow but it’s not going to get too cold.”

Lang said the current conditions will only last for approximately one week before the cold temperatures return.

“I advise everyone to go out and enjoy it while it’s here,” she added.