After a weekend of summer-like temperatures that saw highs soar to 30° on Saturday and Sunday, and even reaching 32° on Monday, residents in southeast Saskatchewan will be trading shorts for jackets as a dramatic shift in the weather sets in just ahead of the May long weekend.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, a large Colorado low system is tracking toward the eastern Prairies, bringing multiple days of rain and potentially even some snow. Warning preparedness meteorologist Danielle Desjardins said this system will primarily impact Manitoba but will also bring significant precipitation to eastern and southeastern Saskatchewan.
“Weyburn will get some rain with this event,” Desjardins explained. “That overnight period, Friday into Saturday, if the system has not exited the region, we could see a few flurries as rain changes over to snow overnight, but not expecting a lot of accumulations.”
Rain is expected to begin Wednesday, with upwards of 10 mm possible during the day, followed by additional rain on Thursday and Friday. The system will bring cooler temperatures with it, and by Friday night, overnight lows could dip to -3°.
While some apps and forecasts have hinted at snow, especially with winter storm warnings currently in effect across parts of Montana and Wyoming, Desjardins emphasized that the threat in Saskatchewan is minimal by comparison.
“The snow in those areas is mainly due to higher elevations and cooler temperatures,” she said. “For Saskatchewan, the bulk of this precipitation will be rain, and it’s just that overnight period from Friday night to Saturday that we could see a little bit of a switch over to snow.”
For those planning to head out camping for the long weekend, Desjardins offered a bit of reassurance.
“I wouldn’t say you have to necessarily cancel plans for this weekend”, she said. “That being said, it’s still going to be quite miserable, and it’s going to feel vastly different to how it has been feeling over the past several days.”
Daytime highs are expected to stay in the single digits through Saturday, though temperatures are forecast to rebound into the double digits by Sunday. Desjardins also cautioned that those heading east, particularly into Manitoba, can expect worse conditions as the core of the system tracks into that region.
“If you are heading anywhere, I wouldn’t suggest heading to Manitoba this weekend,” she added.
In short, it’s still May in Saskatchewan, where sunscreen and snow boots may both be necessary within the same week.