A record tornado and a solar eclipse: Here are CTV Regina's top weather stories of 2024

Weather is always a conversation starter for many in Saskatchewan. The province with “Land of Living Skies” written on its licence plate often makes that conversation easy - with severe, interesting or rare weather phenomenon occurring.

In 2024, two nearly back-to-back snowstorms and an ultra rare post Labour Day tornado are a couple weather stories that had people talking.

In no particular order, here’s CTV News Regina’s top weather stories of 2024.

Late season tornado 

Once September arrives, it’s rare for tornadoes to make appearances in Saskatchewan. So rare that often news stories are published at the end of August tallying up how many confirmed twisters the province saw that summer.

On Sept. 18 though, a tornado was confirmed to have touched down near the community of Langbank, in the province’s southeast.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, (ECCC) it was the third latest in the province on record.

• Tornado in southeastern Sask. Wednesday was 3rd latest in province on record: ECCC

The only other tornadoes to occur in Saskatchewan later in the season came in 1977 in Plunkett and 1969 in Drake.

Regina, Saskatoon hammered with back-to-back snowstorms 

After making it deep into November without any snow, both Regina and Saskatoon had to deal with an abrupt arrival of the white stuff in double dose format.

Two snowstorms less than a week apart hit the two cities and many rural parts of the province, bringing a prompt arrival of winter driving conditions.

The first storm hit Nov. 23 and 24. Then just days later, a second system came through bringing more warnings and hazardous driving conditions.

• Regina slammed with second snowstorm inside a week

• 'The roads are a mess': Saskatoon residents voice concerns over city road clearing

Many highways were closed and RCMP reported dozens of collisions related to the weather during both storms.

July like heat felt in late September 

In contrast to winter storms, July like heat was still being felt in parts of Saskatchewan as October approached.

In late September, daytime highs in the high 20s and low 30s had some people keeping their cabins open longer than usual as temperature records fell in some communities.

• Sask. temperatures soar to July like highs as October approaches

One of those people was Marcella Davis, whose family has a cabin at Good Spirit Lake.

“It’s amazing. I plan on spending the entire week here, there’s no reason to go home,” Davis said on Sept. 25.

The summer like weather in late September was the result of a ridge of high pressure, according to ECCC meteorologist Terri Lang.

According to Lang, the 30-year average for late September in much of the province includes daytime highs in the upper teens.

A solar eclipse and breathtaking Auroa Borealis 

On April 8, some parts of North America were able to see a total solar eclipse and other parts, like Saskatchewan, saw a partial eclipse.

Nonetheless, the event had millions talking around the world and posting pictures of what their view of the phenomenon looked like.

In Saskatchewan, the eclipse reached about 41 per cent totality with daylight appearing similar to when a cloud covers the sun during mid-afternoon.

• Here's what Monday's solar eclipse looked like in Saskatchewan

The eclipse’s peak happened in Saskatchewan around 12:51 p.m. that day and was totally out of view by about 1:51 p.m.

Throughout the year, very prominent views of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) also had many people out taking pictures.

• Saskatchewan treated to intense display of northern lights

The reason for many days with prominent views of the phenomenon was due to the 11-year solar cycle reaching its peak.

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the peak is also expected to last into 2025, meaning more opportunities to capture breath taking images in the new year.

Historic theatre floods after heavy rain in Estevan 

In late August, a severe thunderstorm dumped about 60 millimetres of rain on Estevan in half an hour.

This resulted in the flooding of the historic Orpheum Theatre, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2024.

Co-owner of the theatre Allan Dougherty said Cinema 2 was flooded and at least four inches of water drenched the theatre’s basement.

• 'I don't know what we're going to do': Historic Saskatchewan theatre floods, owners fear closure

Dougherty and his wife have owned the theatre for more than 25 years.

Hot N’ Cold

The start of 2024 brought with it some wild temperature swings that included a cold spell so intense pipes began to burst in some downtown Regina buildings.

• Week long stretch of extreme cold leads to pipe bursts, infrastructure issues in Regina

With wind chill values in the -45 C to -55 C range, pipes burst at the Deta Hotel, University of Regina, Al Ritchie Arena, Transit Operations, and City Hall.

Shortly after the extreme cold spell, plus side temperatures arrived in the dead of winter. In Maple Creek, Sask. a record high of 21.1 C was recorded on Jan. 30.

That was an all-time record high for Saskatchewan that day. Eleven other communities broke a warm temperature record that day and many others climbed above zero during a time when the average daytime high is at or near its lowest point in the year.

If you have another significant weather story top of mind, email us here.