While Maritimers suffer through a harrowing nor’easter, Lakelanders from Lac La Biche to St. Paul are enjoying what feels like a lovely spring day. Temperatures as high as 13 degrees have been reported in some parts of the region in the middle of February.
“Normal for this time of year is around minus six,” says meteorologist with Environment Canada Kirk Torneby. “There was a big surge of warm air that pushed up from the Pacific after we had that big entrenched cold snap last week. It’s pushed out a lot of that that cold air and invaded with a lot of warm air across most of the southern prairies.
“A lot of records were set yesterday. Three across the province yesterday and another five or six expected today.”
Don’t get too used to the sunshine though. Things are expected to cool down again next week. Highs around minus six and lows between minus ten and thirteen are expected to be the norm for the rest of February.
For the time being though, at least one popular winter activity is going to have to be put on the backburner. The Lakeland’s outdoor skating rinks are not safe to use at this time. The County of Lac La Biche has sent out a message on the subject:
“Due to the warm temperatures, we don’t recommend using the County’s outdoor rinks. The ice is soft, and as ice melts and water gets displaced, patches of exposed asphalt form.
If you do use the ice rinks, please exercise caution.”
