Warm, windy weekend to start February in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan will benefit from the tail end of a chinook Saturday.

Gusting wind will bring mild temperatures to most of the province, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang.

“With the wind and temperatures above freezing, the snow disappears very, very quickly and that allows the temperature to climb,” Lang said.

The system started as an atmospheric river on the west coast, she explained.

“Moisture from that tropical system rings out on the mountains and comes down the other side and warms up,” she said. “That’s what’s bringing all the warm air that’s going to spread across Saskatchewan.”

Lang forecasts the wind will hit its peak Saturday afternoon in southwest Saskatchewan.

“They’ll probably see wind gusts up to 80 to 90 kilometres per hour with mild temperatures — you take one with the other,” she said.