Residents in Weyburn are bracing for strong winds on Thursday, with gusts expected to reach 80 kilometres per hour. The system is also ushering in a wave of cold air, bringing a significant risk of widespread frost this weekend. According to Environment Canada Meteorologist Crawford Luke, a low-pressure system exiting the region Wednesday night is responsible for the intense conditions.
"In behind that low-pressure system, we've got a very tight pressure gradient, which is going to give us very strong winds," Luke said.
The winds are forecast to begin late Thursday morning, peaking through the afternoon and into the evening. Luke noted that a wind warning, which is issued when gusts reach 90 km/h, is a possibility. He advised residents to prepare ahead of time.
“People probably want to take some time today to secure any loose items they might have out in their yard and stuff like that,” Luke said, suggesting items like patio furniture and barbecues should be tied down or brought inside. He added that power outages are sometimes possible in these conditions if tree branches fall on power lines.
The wind is accompanying a blast of arctic air that caused temperatures to plummet from a high of 33° in Weyburn on Monday down to an overnight low of 5° Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. While some nearby areas, such as Bratt’s Lake and Indian Head, have already seen freezing temperatures, Luke said the strong winds on Thursday will likely prevent frost from settling.
“When we get to Friday night into Saturday morning, that's kind of looking like the next chance for frost across the area,” Luke cautioned. He said the risk could continue into Saturday night before a warming trend arrives.
Looking ahead, warmer air is expected to return to the prairies next week, and the long-term forecast suggests most of September is trending to be on the warm side. You can stay up to date with the latest forecast by visiting the Discover Weyburn Weather page.