Whatever you do, it’ll likely be outside
Moods are rising with the temperature in Medicine Hat, where today an expected high of 25 C is putting yardwork, as well as general backyard relaxation and barbecues on the agenda, according to local businesses.
Temperatures in the mid20s later this week saw Hatters hit pathways and parks to enjoy seasonal climes after an unseasonably cold winter and long cool spring.
After the temperature spikes today, cooler temperatures and rain are predicted for Sunday and Monday, then warming toward the end of next week.
However, with the hottest day of the calendar year on tap for today, Rob Craats, the manager of Redcliff Home Hardware, says customers through his doors are looking for gardening supplies and are ready to get at it.
“We’ve seen some action in barbecues, but the big thing is yard maintenance, so far — a lot of fertilizer,” he said Friday.
Craats also reports higher than usual sales of shovels and snowblowers over the past four months.
“It’s just been a long, hard winter,” he said.
Environment Canada told the News last month that February was the coldest in Medicine Hat in 25 years, with the most snow since the early 1990s.
There were 82 days with snow on the ground up to March 31, compared to 66 in a normal year.
And snow continued to fall across the province in early April, and a distinct lack of chinook warming trends turned winter into a trudging.
Sharon Janz, who works the front counter at Douglas Meats, said the shop has seen a notable increase of jovial customers planning to celebrate the warm weather.
“We’re all getting ready for the weekend,” she said.