September Heatwave: Unprecedented Temperatures and Dry Spells Hit Saskatchewan | CBC News

Saskatchewan experienced some surprising weather last month. In fact, September was warmer than June in places like Regina, Moose Jaw, and Swift Current. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, every weather station in the province reported high temperatures, making last month one of the hottest Septembers on record.

Danielle Desjardins, a meteorologist, noted, “Every single station we track in Saskatchewan ended up substantially above normal.” For instance, Regina’s mean temperature in September was 15.9°C, compared to a slightly lower 15.7°C in June. Moose Jaw’s September average was even higher at 16.2°C.

What made this month particularly unusual was not just the heat, but also the lack of rain. Swift Current recorded its driest September in 140 years, with only 0.2 mm of rain, while the average is around 40.6 mm. Other areas like Key Lake and La Ronge also saw significantly reduced rainfall.

Desjardins explained that a persistent high-pressure system brought hot, dry air across the province. This type of weather can be beneficial for harvest but is not ideal for soil moisture. Insufficient moisture could hurt agricultural recovery. Moreover, drier conditions raise concerns for wildfires, especially following a rough fire season earlier this year.

Statistics show that Saskatoon received only 14% of its normal precipitation for September. Prince Albert fared slightly better at 26%. The stark contrast in weather patterns reflects broader climate changes. While local thunderstorms in August brought heavy rains, those conditions were not present last month, leading to mixed implications for agriculture.

Whether these trends will continue or are just short-term anomalies remains to be seen. Desjardins emphasizes that the departures from normal this September were quite significant, signaling a possible shift in climate patterns.

For those interested in further details, you can find information from Environment and Climate Change Canada here.

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