Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued [Updated Risk Map]

Storms continue to move across southern Saskatchewan this evening, some strong enough to have watches and warnings issued. For the most part, these storms will only bring brief downpours, small hail and strong wind gusts. Check your weather radio or Environment Canada's current warnings page for details. As of 6:39pm, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the city of Moose Jaw and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for the city of Regina (which set off my new weather radio in the middle of watching the movie Jurassic Park, REALLY LOUD LOL) 

...and as I write this, the latest radar scans show the line of storms coming off Diefenbaker Lake have rapidly dissipated to near extinction.... back to the movie, looks like the storms are all gone...

Today Severe Thunderstorm Risk Map

June 5, 2015

Severe thunderstorms this afternoon including hail heavy rain, lightning and strong wind gusts. Watches have been issued including an advisory for funnel clouds and weak landspout tornadoes.

Saskatchewan Rivals The Driest Places On Earth This Spring!

At first, I knew it was a dry spring and when I read the latest numbers tweeted by Tiffany at Global News Regina, I was not surprised. Only 9.6mm fell in the city of Regina over the month of May.

A look at how little precipitation we have had this May, compared to last year and the normal. #YQR #Sask #SKstorm pic.twitter.com/1ZVomfutK0

— Tiffany Lizée (@TiffanyGlobal) June 2, 2015

Then today, I read a tweet from Peter at Global News in Saskatoon. Only 0.4mm fell in the city of Saskatoon during the month of May. I had to ask if this was a mistake and he meant centimeters.

Driest May ever recorded in #yxe. Exclusive summer outlook @GlobalSaskatoon EN6/NHF10 http://t.co/02scu148Fg #skstorm pic.twitter.com/CEePTHorK3

— Peter Quinlan (@PQuinlanGlobal) June 2, 2015

Nope! Here is the provided official climate data from Environment Canada:

Environment Canada Climate Data

After doing some checking of the driest places on Earth, I found the the Sahara Desert gets approximately 7mm of rain during the month of May. Among the listed driest places on Earth, Waidi Halfa, Sudan gets 2.4mm of rain annually while parts of Egypt, Libya, Chile and the Antarctic get even less to none!

The current long term forecast shows no major change to this dry trend in Saskatchewan. In fact, nothing of significance at all for at least 2 more weeks. People need to take this very seriously in Regina where the city is pleading with residents to cut back on water use. Sadly, with so many new and younger residents, they have no idea what a major drought can do here. Its been a long time since the last major drought but both the "Dirty 30s" and droughts in 1988 and 2000-03 (Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan:Drought) had devastating effects on the economy and living conditions, not only here but in a massive ripple down effect since Saskatchewan is still considered the "breadbasket of North America".

Tonight's Severe Weather Outlook Map

June 1st, 2015

Storms will continue moving east overnight along the Manitoba/North Dakota border. Hail, strong wind gusts and heavy rain are the main risks associated with these storms. Another larger system in Montana may touch the extreme southern border of Saskatchewan late tonight. On Tuesday, storms are expected to keep south of the international border with a possible risk of strong tornadoes in the Dakotas. Much needed rain for the city of Regina has once again missed us and water rationing by residents and businesses begins to ramp up as severe drought threatens the area.

Today's Severe Weather Outlook Map

June 1, 2015

Severe thunderstorms can be expected later today in south east Saskatchewan and along the Manitoba border into the evening. Hail, strong wind gust and heavy rain will be the main threats.