Regina reports 5th hottest July on record with impact on producers, gardeners
Last month was the fifth hottest July on record for the Queen City, according to data from Environment Canada.
Regina’s average temperature in July was 21.8 degrees Celsius – nearly three degrees warmer than the National Weather Agency’s “climate normal” based on a 30 year total.
While heat was in abundance in the province, rain was not, and Environment and Climate Change Canada recorded barely half the normal amount of rainfall for July. They state 31.6 millimetres of rain fell last month, compared to the climate normal 66.9 millimetres.
This ranks it as the 38th driest July since records began in Regina. The driest was July of 1887 with 1.5 millimetres.
“There’s certainly a dry trend, this probably being the driest year we’ve had in the last like I’ve said about five years,” said Matthew Struthers, crop extension specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Struthers said they have seem many crops across the province ripening more rapidly because of the heat and dryness.
“July and the end of June there where it got really, really hot just kind of set the tone for the rest of the season and, unfortunately, most of the crops in the province look quite poor,” Struthers said.
He said the temperatures are much too hot for crops, especially with no rainfall.
“Hopefully we don’t have too many more of these Julys,” said Struthers.
Within the city, those with green thumbs are also battling Mother Nature.
Jocelyn Hutchinson has been working diligently to keep her plot at the Grow Regina Community Garden bountiful.
“As everyone knows we’ve had no rain, so it’s just water, water, water,” said Hutchinson, who has been gardening for the past 30 years.
Prepping in advance, Hutchinson hauled manure in to her plot earlier in the season, but says tending to the garden is still much more demanding than in a typical year.
To lighten some of the load, she and her daughter have been tag teaming their plots.
“It’s a lot more time consuming this year. We’ve always been able to count on rains to sort spell us off a bit and things like that, but there hasn’t been anything,” said Hutchinson.
She is optimistic some August rains will fall to send gardeners some reprieve, but Struthers is hoping it holds off until after harvest.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.