More than a dozen Saskatchewan communities broke heat records on Friday, according to Environment Canada.
Regina reached 36.4 C, beating the 35.4 C record on the same day in 1978.
Saskatoon also surpassed its record of 37.7 C set in 1984 by climbing to 38.2 C.
Meanwhile, Swift Current set a new all-time record of 40 C, exceeding the former 38.9 C.
The Broadview area was the only community to tie an existing record high of 34.4 C, which was initially set in 1969.
Other Saskatchewan communities that saw record highs on Friday include:
- Assiniboia area
new record of 40.1
old record of 36.7 set in 1988 - Coronach area
new record of 39.5
old record of 36.5 set in 1998 - Cypress Hills Provincial Park area
new record of 36.1
old record of 33.5 set in 1984 - Elbow area
new record of 38.5
old record of 37.0 set in 1998 - Indian Head area
new record of 35.6
old record of 35.0 set in 1915 - Leader area
new record of 38.6
old record of 38.5 set in 1984 - Last Mountain lake area
new record of 36.5
old record of 35.6 set in 1978 - Lucky Lake area
new record of 39.9
old record of 36.1 set in 1978 - Maple Creek area
new record of 40.1
old record of 36.0 set in 1984 - Moose Jaw area
new record of 39.8
old record of 36.3 set in 1984 - Rockglen area
new record of 38.6
old record of 35.7 set in 1998 - Rosetown area
new record of 39.1
old record of 38.0 set in 1984 - Watrous area
new record of 36.0
old record of 34.5 set in 1978 - Weyburn area
new record of 37.2
old record of 35.6 set in 1998 - Wynyard area
new record of 35.1
old record of 34.3 set in 1978
More Sask. heat records expected to break Saturday
With Regina forecast to hit a high of 39 C on Saturday, which is hotter than the current record set back in 2003 of 35 C, for instance, meteorologist David Baggaley said there’s a good chance more August records could be broken.
“We have a fairly broad area of temperatures in the high 30s, so pretty much the whole southeast corner of Saskatchewan will have summery temperatures,” he said.
However, with temperatures across the province dipping back into the mid-20s by early next week, Baggaley added the heat’s on its way out.
He noted an upper ridge of high pressure brought an extra day of record-breaking high temperatures, but the heat wave should end around Monday as a cold front moves in.
As for the wildfire smoke coming from blazes in B.C. and Alberta, Baggaley said Saskatchewan residents should expect “pretty smoky conditions” all weekend and into much of the work week.