There were no record-breaking days for La Ronge in June, but there were three in May. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

weather update

May, June warmest on record in La Ronge

Jul 12, 2023 | 1:20 PM

Back-to-back months in La Ronge have been the warmest experienced out of 57 years of record-keeping.

That’s according to data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, which shows La Ronge had a monthly mean temperature of 17.9 C in June. The normal mean temperature is 14.5 C.

May was also a warm month across Western Canada with it being the warmest on record for La Ronge. The mean temperature for May was 13.3 C, a 4.9 C departure from normal.

“I wish we knew the answers,” meteorologist Terri Lang replied when asked why the weather has been so warm.

“Normally with a La Niña, we knew we had come out of it, and that usually gives a cold and wet spring is kind of what we had and then there was a very quick transition to hot and dry. There is some evidence that occurs when we are transitioning from La Niña to El Niño, but nothing is really solid about that.”

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La Niña is an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon that is the colder counterpart of El Niño.

There were three record-breaking days for heat in La Ronge in May. There weren’t any record-breaking days in June, but there were three warm minimum records (meaning overnight lows were record high) on the June 1, June 4 and June 12.

“Certainly, the long-range forecasts are painting for a summer that is going to be above average in respect to temperature,” Lang said. “The precipitation pattern, of course, is all over the map and we’re not very good at the long-term precipitation patterns anyway, but July and all the way through the fall is forecasted to be above-average temperature as well.”

Although warmer temperatures can result in an increase in severe weather, Lang mentioned she doesn’t see that in the immediate forecast for La Ronge. She noted most of the severe weather currently in Western Canada is in Alberta due to the position of the jetstream.

“We will probably see more in terms of more severe weather,” Lang said. “It is dry, though, and we depend on the storms. We need the moisture, so until we get some moisture, it doesn’t look like we will get too much in the way of severe weather.”

The upcoming forecast for La Ronge includes a mix of sun and cloud. There’s a 30 per cent chance of showers on Wednesday with a high of 27 C, followed by a mix of sun and cloud on Thursday and a high of 23 C. There’s a 60 per cent chance of showers on Friday with a high of 18 C and Saturday will be cloudy with a high of 20 C.

Sunny skies are expected to return on Sunday and last until at least Tuesday. Sunday is forecasted to reach a high of 22 C, and Monday and Tuesday are both expected to reach 27 C.

—

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno