The month of May was warmer than usual, according to monthly numbers from Statistics Canada.
Three of Environment Canada’s weather stations recorded the warmest month ever — Key Lake with an average temperature of 12.3, La Ronge at 13.3, and North Battleford at 15.2.
Regina recorded an average temperature of 14.9, 3.6 degrees higher than the normal 11.3 for May. Yorkton recorded 13.9, Swift Current 14.8, Moose Jaw 14.7, and Estevan 15.1 — all increases.
Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang says the El Nino hasn’t formed yet.
“We’re still in neutral conditions although it is warming, so we’re kind of that transition period between El Nina and El Nino,” Lang said. “It’s just one of those things we had that big, blocking ridge pattern that sat over western Canada and dried out the forests dreadfully, and that told the whole story right there and set up May for all the fires and all the smoke that came in.”
Lang says May was relatively dry with the exception of the southeast, but precipitation finally came towards the end for many southern and central regions.
“The pattern switched over that last week of May and we kind of got into more of a southerly flow from the upper atmosphere and that brings us much more warmer and moister air, and it can hold a lot of moisture and that set the tone for those thunderstorms,” she said.
Regina recorded a total of 37.1 mm, Yorkton 23.1 mm, Moose Jaw 16.9, and Swift Current 41.0 — all decreases from their respective normal totals. Estevan, however, got 63.8mm, up from the average of 56.2.
The forecast for June, Lang says, is looking warmer than average. As for precipitation for next week, Lang says to expect more of the same: showers, thunderstorms, and humid weather.
“It’ll help get the crops going but with the severe weather with it.”