Warm-up in the south, steady snowfall in north and central Sask. expected next week

Mother Nature will be bringing Saskatchewan some warmer winter temperatures for the new year.

Danielle Desjardins, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said southern parts of the province will see temperatures hovering close to the freezing mark in the next week.

For communities in north and central Saskatchewan, temperatures will be around seasonal for this time of year.

The warmest weather will be for areas right along the U.S. border, close to Estevan, Desjardins said.

"The low-pressure system is bringing in some warmer Pacific air into the region, so that's going to moderate [temperatures], especially south [and] into central Saskatchewan," she said.

Though warmer weather patterns like these aren’t uncommon, especially for the southwestern part of the province, temperatures will likely be "significantly above normal" next week, said Desjardins.

"[For] Estevan, we’re looking at daytime highs later in the weekend, through next week around –4 C, –5 C," she said. "Normals are –11 C for daytime highs."

Desjardins also noted those temperatures will likely feel colder with the wind chill.

While temperatures are increasing, parts of the province are also expected to see some snow over the weekend.

Central and northern parts of the province are expected to get two to four centimeters of snow Friday, with another two to five Saturday night and into Sunday morning, Desjardins said. Fresh snow and warmer weather could have an effect on road conditions next week, she said.

"With these milder temperatures, sometimes the roads can get quite slushy, and then you get a bit of refreeze overnight," Desjardins said.

"So just pay attention to the road conditions as we approach the near 0 C temperatures over the next week or so."

Desjardins said temperatures are expected to dip down again next weekend.