August began with more record breaking heat

Southwest Saskatchewan’s hot and dry summer extended into August with the new month beginning with more record heat.

Environment Canada reported that two Southwest communities were among nine Saskatchewan locations where new daily maximum temperature records were set on August 1.

Leader set a new August 1 record of 36.0 Celsius to edge the previous mark of 35.6 set in 1955. It also stands as the hottest August 1 since records have been kept in the Leader area since 1924.

Maple Creek climbed to 35.7 Celsius on Sunday to erase the former mark of 35.3 established in 2019. The record also ranks as the hottest August 1 since records were first kept over a century ago dating back to 1915.

A Heat Warning had been in effect for most of the long weekend, with daytime highs hovering in the low to mid 30s and overnight temperatures staying in the teens.