The hottest place in Canada for at least part of Monday afternoon was in Saskatchewan.
Sitting at 39, Mankota, Sask., about an hour and a half south of Swift Current, was Canada’s hot spot shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
“It’s awful. I went home a couple times – we farm out here as well – and the animals are suffering,” Lisa Pierce, owner of Mankota’s Grasslands Inn told CTV News.
“It’s going to be another year where we’re not going to have much of a crop and I’ve really noticed it here actually … This is about the fifth or sixth year in a row where we’ve had drought and its starting to take its toll on people.”
According to Pierce, Mankota taking the honour of being the hottest place in Canada is no surprise.
“It didn’t because we watch The Weather Network very diligently because we’re farmers,” she explained.
However, it’s what her home shares with some southern destinations that surprises Pierce.
“Right above Mankota on my phone is Portales, New Mexico … and Portales is the same temperature as Mankota is today.”
“So that’s pretty bad,” she laughed.
Heat warnings continued to be in effect for much of central and southern Saskatchewan on Monday. The area included Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.
Waskesiu was noted as the “coldest spot in Saskatchewan,” but was still sitting at 24 degrees, Monday afternoon.
According to ECCC, the extreme heat is expected to ease from west to east beginning Tuesday morning.
Also on Monday afternoon, ECCC advised that strong thunderstorms are possible in central Saskatchewan throughout Monday and into Tuesday morning.
