By Saskatchewan standards, recent weather can only be described as tropical.
The Battlefords and the rest of central and southern Saskatchewan continue to see unseasonably warm temperatures for this time of year, with temperatures making it above zero several times during what is normally the pit of winter.
In North Battleford, Environment Canada recorded temperatures above 3 C on Tuesday.
While well above average the temperature did not match the all-time high of 8.8 C set in 1985.
"It's well above normal for this time of year," said Bill McMurtry, Environment Canada meteorologist.
The normal highs would be -12 C and lows of -22 C.
McMurtry said record highs were reported Tuesday in six locations in the southern and western portions of the province, including Rosetown and Kindersley immediately to the south. The area has seen above normal temperatures consistently for the last several weeks. According to the Environment Canada website, highs of 3.6 C were recorded Dec. 23, 6.5 C Dec. 24, and 5.5 C Christmas Day. Christmas Day also saw little in the way of snow in most areas.
Despite the return of the snow Dec. 27, the temperature did get up to 3.5 C before sliding back into minus territory for the rest of the week.
However, temperatures were again in plus territory beginning Tuesday, with highs up to 4 C predicted for Thursday before sliding back.
McMurtry said temperatures were well above normal throughout the month of December and attributes the conditions to an air flow that allows the warmer air to travel through the region.
"We've been under the influence of a westerly flow in the upper levels and that's allowed fairly warm air from the Pacific to move not only across Saskatchewan but also southern and central British Columbia and most of the southern and central Prairies," said McMurtry.
Most of those regions are seeing above normal temperatures, he said, as well as below normal precipitation, meaning there is not a lot of snow on the ground.
McMurtry notes Saskatchewan residents can expect the above-seasonal conditions to continue for some time yet, into next week at least.
"There's no indication of any extended push of cold air," said McMurtry.
The forecast from Environment Canada called for highs around zero all the way through Monday at least.
While the near-record conditions have made life more bearable this winter for Northwest Saskatchewan residents, it has also brought out the skeptical reaction of people thinking there is bound to be some sort of downside to the good weather fortunes.
"A lot of people are saying 'oh, we're going to be paying for this down the road.'" said McMurtry. But "we already paid for it with last winter, how miserable and cold and long it was and what a long, cool spring we had," he notes.
"We deserve the nice warm winter so far."
