Brace for a hot, dry Saskatchewan summer: Environment Canada
While it’s still spring, it feels more like summer in Saskatchewan — and temperatures are forecasted to continue to be higher than average into the summer.
Typical temperatures for May are around 20 C. On Tuesday, Saskatoon is expecting a high of 30 C.
Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), said a “big ridge of high pressure” built over Western Canada is the reason for the warmth and record-setting temperatures in some regions.
Central and northern Saskatchewan have a 70 to 90 per cent chance of being above normal temperatures for May, June and July — according to a three month outlook from ECCC.
“It’s going to be a warm summer,” Lang told CTV News.
ECCC modelling shows there’s a 30 to 50 per cent chance of below normal precipitation through May, June and July.
Amid the lack of moisture and heat, Saskatchewan waterway levels could be lower than normal — as a result of low snowpack levels in the Rocky Mountains.
Lake Diefenbaker and the Saskatchewan rivers rely on melting snow from the Rocky Mountains.
With the warm temperatures in British Columbia and Alberta, the melt is happening sooner — and quicker, because there isn’t much snow to melt, according to John Pomeroy, director of the Global Water Futures program.
“It’s melting fast in the heat. It's the fastest mountain snow melt I've seen in my life,” Pomeroy said.
SaskPower depends on the South Saskatchewan River to generate hydro electricity.
“This river’s got a lot to do and there’s not much snow melting into it right now, which is a little bit of a worry,” Pomeroy told CTV News.
Low water levels in Lake Diefenbaker could impact irrigation, according to Pomeroy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
Paris dazzles with a rainy Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.