A number of daytime heat records dating back to the Dirty 30s were erased across the Southwest on Canada Day.
Environment Canada reported that 26 Saskatchewan communities set daily maximum temperatures on July 1.
The Southwest recorded some of the province’s hottest temperatures on Thursday, with Leader reaching a sizzling 38.5 Celsius to edge their old record of 37.2 set all the way back in 1936.
Swift Current topped out at 35.2 Celsius to break the previous mark of 33.9 set in 1937 and making it the hottest July 1 since records have been kept dating back to 1885.
Cypress Hills Provincial Park reached a new record of 32.6 Celsius to erase the previous mark of 30..0 from 1990. It was also the hottest July 1 since area weather records have been kept dating back to 1918.
Maple Creek set back-to-back weather records when the temperature reached 37.6 Celsius on July 1 to erase the previous mark of 34.4 set in 1937. A day earlier on June 30 the community reached 36.0 to eclipse the former mark of 35.9 set in 2008, however it was the hottest June 30 in the area since records have been kept dating back to 1915.
Also in the region Lucky Lake also set back-to-back high temperatures records, reaching 33.5 Celsius on June 30 to break the former mark of 32.9 set in 2008. Lucky Lake also set a new record of 35.0 Celsius on July 1 to easily out pace the former mark of 30.0 set in 1976.
There will be little reprieve from the heat today as Environment Canada is forecasting daytime highs will climb into the mid to upper 30s for most of Saskatchewan, and overnight lows will remain in the upper teens or low 20 Celsius range.
Environment Canada is recasting the dangerous heat will stay in place through Saturday, followed by a gradual return to seasonal temperatures on Sunday and Monday.
