Saskatchewan set for chilly Christmas in latest forecast

It will be a chilly ride for Santa Claus when he visits Saskatchewan.

There are only 6 days until Christmas Day, which means the weather forecast for the holiday is now available.

In Regina, the high temperature is expected to hit -23 C. It will be slightly colder in Saskatoon, where it’s expected to hit -24 C.

Robyn Dyck, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, explained that it’s not out of the ordinary to have a cold Christmas, but it’s still important to be aware of the temperatures.

Specifically, she highlights the importance of being prepared if you’re travelling to see family for the holidays.

“I would just make sure that you’re letting people know where you’re going and when you’re going, there are kits you can look up online, what maybe you should be carrying in your car if you’re travelling. Like blankets, shovels in case you do get stuck,” she said.

She pointed to a guide from the federal government, which recommends packing:

• Food that won’t spoil, such as energy bars
• Water—plastic bottles that won’t break if the water freezes (replace them every six months)
• Blankets
• Extra clothing and shoes or boots
• First aid kit with seatbelt cutter
• Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush
• Candle in a deep can and matches
• Wind‑up flashlight
• Whistle—in case you need to attract attention
• Roadmaps
• Copy of your emergency plan

Another Christmas-related weather question is whether there will be a lot of snow.

There likely won’t be anything significant.

There’s a 60 per cent chance Saskatoon will get some flurries on Christmas, For Regina, it will come a bit earlier.

“There’s a chance of another shot of snow early Tuesday. It skirts along the US border, so we might just clip the very northern edge of it, so not a lot of snow,” Dyck said.