Moose Jaw may have fell short of setting daily temperature records during last weekend’s heatwave, but Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Terri Lang says the combination of heat and unusually high humidity made conditions feel fair more significant than the thermometer suggested. Hot, but not quite hot enough Despite failing to set any new daily records, conditions in Moose Jaw were sweltering over the weekend. Lang says Moose Jaw reached 30.7 C on Friday, well short of the record of 36.7 C set in 1937. Similarly, Saturday’s high of 31.2 C also missed the mark, over five degrees off from 1925’s high of 36.7 C. On Sunday, during the peak of the heatwave, the city reached 33.6 C, also short of the daily record— a high of 37.8 C set back in 1897. Record-breaking heat felt elsewhere No records fell here in town—or provincially on Friday and Saturday for that matter—but several other southern Saskatchewan communities set or tied daily marks on Sunday. Cypress Hills reached 31.8 C, breaking the previous record of 30.4 C set in 2012. Eastend tied its record at 32.7 C, matching the mark set in 2002. Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area recorded a warm overnight low of 17.9 C, surpassing the previous record of 16.5 C set in 1985. Rockglen set a new high minimum temperature of 19.8 C, topping the 17.5 C record established in 2024. Wynyard Area reached 32.0 C, breaking the previous high of 30.9 C from 2006, while its overnight low of 18.3 C also set a new record, beating 16.7 C from 2015. Yorkton established two more records, with a high of 33.8 C, eclipsing 33.3 C set in 1964, and a high minimum temperature of 19.2 C, edging out the previous mark of 18.9 C set in 2012. Humidity made all the difference Lang says what made the weekend stand out was not record-breaking temperatures—or lack thereof— but the humidity, which pushed felt temperature values into the low 40s. "It's not something we're necessarily used to in Saskatchewan, especially over the last few years being so dry," Lang said. "We're not used to the humidity and having to use those humidex values." She says recent rainfall, combined with crops entering their peak growing season, have helped drive up moisture levels in the air through a process known as evapotranspiration. "Some people call it corn sweat. Storm chasers call it storm juice, but it's all the same thing, speaking about the amount of moisture coming into the air from the crops," Lang said. Lang added that while the phenomenon is often discussed south of the province, Saskatchewan experiences the same effect during the growing season, although the effect is less pronounced. Related Stories: Moose Jaw faces first major heat wave of summer Weekend heatwave shattered records on Sunday Saskatchewan doctor urges heat precautions ahead of extreme weekend temperatures SaskEnergy warns of natural gas during flood & fire preparations ▶️ Stream this news story: 800 CHAB, Country 100, Mix 103 Seasonal weather returns to Moose Jaw area The worst of the heat has now shifted east, with southeastern Saskatchewan expected to be the last part of the province under a heat warning. Lang says temperatures in the Moose Jaw area should now return to seasonal levels over the coming days, with daytime highs hovering around the average daily maximum of 27 C. She notes the lingering humidity will lead to a modest increase in felt temperatures, and there’s a chance of thunderstorms late Tuesday into Wednesday. "We wait a very long time for summer in this area," Lang said. "We want people to get out and enjoy it. It's nice when it's not 35 with a 45 humidex and not storms going off every day. So, get out there and enjoy it. Just do it safely."