It was a bitterly cold end to 2018, now just two days into the New Year, we are seeing daytime highs climb to warmer than average temperatures. Not quite record-breaking, but still, well above normal.

David Phillips is the senior climatologist with Environment Canada.

“Typically at this time of year should be -11° for the afternoon high, not 3° or 4°. I mean, these are 14, 15 degrees warmer than normal,” Phillips explained. “What we’re seeing is clearly a change of circulation.”

The change in circulation he is referring to is the movement of warm air from the Pacific, which is blowing over the mountains and into the Prairies. It comes right on the heels of a blast of Arctic air which came through at the tail end of the year.

The warmer weather is bringing with it the drastic jump in temperatures, which has many wondering how long it will last. The answer isn’t necessarily one many would like, as the temperatures will be returning closer to seasonal values next week.

“There will be some more incursions of colder, arctic air, Phillips reminded. “You haven’t finished with winter yet.”

Thanks to the formation of El Nino in the Pacific, the circulation we're seeing right now isn’t expected to be the last time we see the warm weather during the course of the winter. 

Click here to see the five-day forecast.