Southwest Booster Staff

A Special Air Quality Statement is in effect for Southern Saskatchewan with smoke from British Columbia forest fires impacting air quality in Saskatchewan. The Environment Canada special air quality statement notes that high levels of air pollution is occurring in Saskatchewan as a result of smoke plumes from forest fires in BC. In the Southwest, the statement has been issued for...

Crop, hay and pasture land across the Southwest remains under stress, with hot temperatures and a lack of moisture impacting the growing season. The July 4 to 10 Crop Report issued today by Saskatchewan Agriculture highlights that topsoil moisture conditions in the Southwest continues to rapidly deteriorate as a result of hot and dry weather. Topsoil moisture on cropland is...

Seven Rural Municipalities in the Swift Current area along with the Lac Pelletier Regional Park have implemented fire bans effective immediately. In an announcement late Wednesday afternoon, fire bans were instituted in the R.M.’s of Swift Current #137, Lac Pelletier #107, Riverside #168, Coulee #136, Whiska Creek #106, Webb #138, plus Excelsior #166. Fire bans are in place for all open...

A large group of cyclists will make quick work of the roads of Southwest Saskatchewan as part of the Sea to Sea Fighting To End Poverty ride by members of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. On Thursday, the cyclists will cover the 164 kilometres from Medicine Hat to Gull Lake, and on Friday they will be equally ambitious...

Households in the Highland and Trail Subdivisions have been placed under a Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory. The Water Security Agency has issued the advisory effective 9 a.m. for all properties north of the TransCanada Highway and west of Central Avenue/Highway 4 (excluding industrial properties west of Highland Subdivision). The advisory was issued in response to a depressurization of the water distribution system. Public Drinking...

Supporters of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council/Easter Seals Saskatchewan are invited to stop at Boston Pizza today to help raise funds to send kids with disabilities to camp. The fifth annual Boston Pizza Day for Camp Easter Seal runs today, with 20 per cent of pizza sales donated to Camp Easter Seal courtesy of Boston Pizza Saskatchewan franchisees. The July 12...

Parts of the Southwest were impacted by hail which accompanied a series of severe thunderstorms that developed on Monday evening. While the primary damage occurred in West Central and Southeast Saskatchewan, portions of the Southwest were hit by the storms. Environment Canada reports that golf ball sized hail fell at the Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park shortly after midnight. There was...

Val Marie reached a sweltering 38.5 Celsius on Saturday during a record setting warm day across Southern Saskatchewan. Val Marie established a new record high for July 8 by reaching 38.5 Celsius, or 101 on the Fahrenheit scale. It eclipsed the former mark of 37.5 Celsius set in 1983 and it is the hottest July 8 on record dating back...

With two Southwest communities already climbing above 30 Celsius earlier this afternoon, the Cypress Health Region is reminding the public to exercise precautions during times of excessive heat and sun exposure this summer. Environment Canada has placed the Southwest under a heat advisory throughout the weekend, with daily maximum temperatures near 32 Celsius or above. Heat warnings are issued when...

Environment Canada has added Southwest Saskatchewan to a Heat Warning which is currently in effect across much of Alberta. Earlier this afternoon, Environment Canada issued a Heat Warning for the Swift Current - Herbert - Cabri - Kyle - Lucky Lake; the Leader - Gull Lake; and the Shaunavon - Maple Creek - Val Marie - Cypress Hills forecast regions. The...