It was a frigid February for all in 2019. (Submitted photo/Environment Canada) : Brady Lang

By Brady Lang

In like a lion

After a historically cold February, March comes in with warmth but high winds

Mar 4, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Even though the temperatures may be getting up to seasonal averages, you may want to hold onto your hat.

March seems to be coming in like a lion this year, but with the February we had, it’s much welcomed. The outlook so far this week is highs up to – 3 C, which is expected on Friday.

These temperatures seem to be nearly too good to be true, because – in fact- they are.

The wind is expected to create havoc throughout this week, with a low pressure system circulating around the prairies, Meteorologist Natalie Hasell from Environment Canada said. Wind gusts within the next 48 hours are expected to get up to 50 km/h, which Hasell said shouldn’t be taken lightly.

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“Take precautions,” she said. “The risk of frostbite still exists; it’ll just take a bit longer. This is actually the more critical time to take precautions.”

Hasell says it may not feel as cold, but long-term exposure in these conditions can still be health-concerning. Due to the high temperatures, people won’t notice frostbite until it’s too late.

“You might not have a risk of frostbite in minutes, the way you do when an extreme cold warning is issued. You still need to make sure that you and the people with you are feeling alright,” she said.

Temperatures are expected to remain below normal for the next week, but moving into the near future, possibly into Monday, Hasell says there’s the chance to get back to seasonal highs and lows.

The Meteorologist said that the North American Ensemble Forecast, which looks into the next 14 days, is suggesting that Central Saskatchewan which includes the Battlefords, will see seasonal normal conditions for this time of year. That’s looking at a spread of – 3 to 12 C.

When looking back at the historically frigid month that was endured in the Battlefords, our area did get close to setting the record for coldest month ever in the area. It was the second coldest month in 77 years, with an average temperature of – 24.1 C. That’s an 11.5 C departure from seasonal averages for this time of year.

Over in Meadow Lake, they also had the second coldest February in their 70 year history, at – 25.6 C, a spread of – 11.4 C from the normal temperatures.

— with files from Ronald Quaroni

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Brady.lang@jpbg.ca, ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangBFN, @RonaldQuaroni