A look at Central Avenue on Dec. 22, 2023. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

CHRISTMAS WEATHER

Environment Canada forecasting a mild Christmas in P.A.

Dec 22, 2023 | 12:33 PM

Christmas is just days away, but it looks anything but your usual postcard-style winter wonderland right now in Prince Albert.

For the past month, Saskatchewan has been treated to mild conditions and according to Meteorologist Terri Lang with Environment Canada, it’s going to continue into Christmas.

“30-year average highs are -12 and overnight lows around -23, but here we are forecasting highs maybe even getting above freezing and overnight lows not all that cold either.”

The reason for this unusually warm winter is a strong El Nino system which offsets the Jetstream to the north, pushing warmer air to the south.

“When the jet stream is pushed to the north, that keeps the cold air up north and the warm air over top of much of Western Canada as well,” said Lang.

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So when – if at all – will more seasonal, colder temperatures make their way into the area this winter? Lang said it’s hard to tell as they can only forecast, with confidence, out to 10 days and, so far, no major changes are coming.

“We’ve heard some rumblings that something may change in the atmosphere sometime in January, but so far that’s not showing up on any of the weather charts quite yet.”

While the weather could make driving to your Christmas destination a little easier this year, Lang notes that the roads could still be a bit slick.

“We are seeing some pavement frost and rime icing and that type of thing that can make the roads a little bit slippery in the morning,” she said. “So best to check the forecast and the Highway Hotline conditions before heading out so that everybody has a safe holiday season.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com