People enjoy record-breaking weather in Regina

Stepping outside on Friday or Saturday in south Saskatchewan, you might find it hard to believe the calendar still says February.

With a high of 12 C on Friday, Regina broke the previous record for the day set back in 1932 with a high of 8.9 C. The record for the warmest February day in Regina was also set in 1932 when it reached 15.6 C on Feb. 28.

Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Estevan and Weyburn all hit high temperatures between 14 C and 11 C.

The record-breaking temperatures were a boon for several businesses around Regina. Leopold’s Tavern and Rock Creek Tap and Grill in Normanview both opened their patios early.

Melanie and her friend Jackie were toasting the early heat wave on the patio at Rock Creek on Friday.

“It is gorgeous, it’s sunny and blue skies, it’s balmy for Saskatchewan,” Melanie said.

She says it’s great to enjoy weather like this after suffering through so many harsh winters.

“No, I don’t believe it is February, absolutely not,” said Jackie. “I can’t remember ever being on a patio in February in Saskatchewan.”

“It’s just early spring, I mean the winters have been so unbearable the last couple of years and this has been a beautiful one, so it’s nice to just enjoy some sun and some nice weather,” James agreed.

The signs of spring are everywhere, with only a few patches of snow left on the ground, plenty of people are out riding bikes or driving with the windows down.

Darlene was out walking her dog at a park in north Regina Friday.

“I even noticed by the lake there how much it’s melting, it’s just beautiful,” she commented.

“This whole winter has been just actually quite beautiful. Even that one week of the cold weather just didn’t do anything for me, it didn’t break my spirits or anything.”

Darlene says she lives for the warmth and this is the first winter she hasn’t booked a hot vacation, so this weather helps.

People itching to break out the golf clubs will have a chance to hit the driving range on Saturday.

Regina’s Paisley Golf Course is beating the record for earliest opening set last year in March, by opening for the season on Saturday.