Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Plus temperatures to cause hazardous driving conditions

Nov 23, 2017 | 9:00 AM

Relief from the unseasonably cold weather this month is coming today in the form of temperatures up to 5 C, but according to Environment Canada, the nice weather comes with its own set of hazards.

All of central and north central Sasaktchewan is expected to see temperatures above zero today. The Battlefords area is forecasted to hit a high of 5 C, Meadow Lake 4 C, while Prince Albert and Melfort are both expected to see temperatures of 3 C.

Warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, John Paul Cragg, said though it will feel really nice during the day; it could cause hazardous conditions once the sun goes down.

“There could be a little bit of rain too, so when you put that together with some melting of the snow, we could be in for some pretty slick conditions.”

Cragg said it won’t get warm enough to cause a complete melt of all the snow, but said there will be runoff onto roads and walkways. He added once the sun goes down the temperatures will drop to below freezing tonight and into tomorrow morning, turning whatever water has developed into ice.

The freeze will not only cause hazards for drivers but for those who walk around town as well. Cragg said walkways will also become slick, which can cause slipping and falling injuries.

According to Cragg, the higher temperatures are due to warm pacific air travelling over the mountains in Alberta. He said as the air gets pushed down it warms up as it enters Saskatchewan. Cragg added it will be short lived as cold northwest air will take over around sunset and the areas will see closer to seasonal temperatures.

 

greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins