Mild December leads to more broken weather records

More weather records fell in Saskatchewan on Wednesday as El Niño delays the arrival of winter and puts a white Christmas in jeopardy.

Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Share said temperature records were set in seven communities across northern and southern Saskatchewan.

Here are the communities that set temperature records on Wednesday, with the previous records also included:

• Coronach, 8.9 C  (8.5 C, set in 2022)
• Buffalo Narrows, 7 C  (4.1 C, set in 1997)
• Collins Bay, 3.2 C  (-1.4 C, set in 2018)
• Key Lake, 3.2 C  (-0.5 C, set in 1997)
• La Ronge, 6 C  (1.1 C, set in in 1976)
• Hudson Bay, 5.4 C  (5 C, set in 1998)
• Southend, 3.1 C  (-0.2 C, set in 2014)

Share said a ridge of high pressure has been keeping arctic air at bay this month. He says the lack of snow also plays a role in temperatures.

“The clear grounds are absorbing more heat, and then you get warmer temperatures from that as well,” explained Share. “Anywhere snow has stuck around, you would see temperatures several degrees colder.”

Cooler temperatures are expected to return next week, but Share said no significant snow is on the horizon.

The average daytime temperature for Saskatoon in December is -9 C while Regina’s average is -7.7 C.