‘From slush to sweat’: Climatologist says Saskatchewan heat wave just beginning.

The Saskatchewan weather pendulum is swinging, bringing a taste of summer to the province after weeks of snowy and soggy conditions.

David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, said a blast of heat is making its way to the province.

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“You’re going to go from slush to sweat now,” Phillips said during an appearance on The Greg Morgan Morning Show.

Listen to the full interview with Phillips:

Temperatures in both Regina and Saskatoon are expected to be around or above 30 C all week, with the heat wave expected to peak on Friday with a forecast of 35 C in both cities.

Phillips said the warm weather is coming in on the heels of a cold, snowy, and damp May long weekend.

“It was more ice fishing than real fishing going on there,” he said.

“My gosh, talk about a change of pace.”

Phillips said temperatures this week are expected to be as much as 15 C above normal for this time of year in some parts of Saskatchewan.

“You could be warmer than any moment in the last two years, even in the dog days of summer,” he said. “Talk about a turnaround.”

Phillips said the change will come as good news for many farmers, after late snowfall and wet conditions pushed back seeding operations in several regions.

“Farmers are gonna be happy,” he said. “They’ve been maybe doing a little field work and seeding, but the ground is so cold it won’t take, so now it’s going to warm up.”

By the end of this week, Phillips said most people will no longer be complaining about the snow and the cold.

“They’ll be complaining about the heat and humidity,” he said.

“It’s just normal. You’re always complaining about the weather, and this one it’ll be different than what you’ve been complaining about for the last six weeks.”

Phillips said it looks like there’s no end in sight for warmer-than-normal temperatures, with the heat wave expected to stick around through June, July and August.

“This is it. I really think this has got staying power,” said Phillips.

“It is showing across the whole province of Saskatchewan, all the prairies, warmer than normal now. Not as warm this week, maybe, but still warmer than normal.”

Phillips said July and August are the peak times for tornadoes, though Saskatchewan already recorded its first tornado of the season this month.

“They can actually occur at this time of the year, especially the weather this week, because not only is it going to be warm, but it’s going to be humid,” Phillips explained.

The climatologist said Saskatchewan probably sees even more tornadoes than the number that are officially recorded every year, but because some are so small that they go unnoticed.

Phillips said the worst tornado in Canadian history is still the Regina Cyclone, which hit the city back in 1912, leading to 28 deaths.