Heat warnings have been issued for many areas of Saskatchewan including the southwest region, west central, northwest, and much of northern Saskatchewan. Temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 32 degrees Celsius with overnight lows around 16 degrees. Environment Canada issues heat warnings when temperatures and/or humidity levels reach a point where heat stroke or other health illnesses can pose a great risk to people.

While the heat took it’s time to reach the prairies, it’s been extraordinarily hot in parts of the southwest United States. Over the weekend a motorcyclist died while traveling through Death Valley, California because of the heat and another rider was hospitalized due to extreme heat illness. Temperatures on Sunday in the region climbed to 53.3 degrees Celsius and there are predictions that temperatures could reach or exceed 54 degrees! That’s not just hot, that’s spicy hot!

Extreme temperatures have also been reported in northern California, reaching 49 degrees Celsius while Salem, Oregon reported a record setting 39.4 degrees this week so far.

Arizona can’t escape the heat either where a new record high was set for the low temperature. This past Sunday Phoenix and surrounding area had an overnight low of 33.3 degrees Celsius. Yes, you read that correctly. An overnight low of 33.3. It’s not much better in Las Vegas, Nevada either. This past weekend, the city climbed to 48.8 degrees Celsius breaking their previous record by four degrees.

Thankfully we won’t see those kinds of temperatures in Saskatchewan over the next several days, but it’ll be hot enough that the saying “hot enough for you?” should be avoided at all costs.

Stay cool.

Pictured: Elevator east of Assiniboia, SK. Photo by Cody Glydon