Extended period of bitter cold in Sask. unseen since 1930s

Daksha RanganDigital Reporter

Imposing shots of Arctic air are a common event across the Prairies during the winter months -- but for those in Saskatchewan who may be feeling like it hasn't quite been this cold in a long, long time: you're not entirely wrong.

Extreme cold temperatures have dominated across the Prairies since the start of February, and it's the usual culprit: a dip in the jet stream that allows for a blast of Arctic air (or several) to descend across the region.

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It's cross-polar flow, explains The Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham, that causes the unseasonable cold. This is when the Northern Hemisphere's coldest air (originating over Siberia) crosses the North Pole and sinks south, over continental North America -- it's why we saw historic cold reach parts of the U.S. Midwest in January, and it's also why Saskatchewan is dealing with some of its coldest temperatures on record for an extended period of time this winter.

The province hasn't seen such a prolonged period of extreme cold for the month of February since the Depression era, 90 years ago.

February 2019 Anomaly

*The graphic above highlights the prolonged period of well-below seasonal temperatures seen across much of Saskatchewan in February. *

Saskatoon's average temperature for the month of February is -12.5 C, but the city is currently 13 C below normal, The Weather Network's Chris Murphy explains. Meanwhile, Regina's monthly average temperature is -11.7 C -- the city is also facing a February average that is 13 C below normal.

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"Of note, both cities had at least one overnight where the minimum temperature dropped below -40 C -- Saskatoon actually had two," Murphy says.

"But if it's any consolation, the expression 'it could always be worse' certainly holds true."

'Worse,' would be Key Lake, Sask. The area has seen 18 nights below -30 C, seven of which were below -40 C without the windchill.

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The Prairies will be dealing with another shot of Arctic air for the last weekend of February, rounding off the month with another period of bitter cold.

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