Why is February So Cold?!
There is always exceptions but February is typically the coldest month of the year in Saskatchewan. You might wonder—how can winter be so bitterly cold when Earth is actually closer to the Sun at this time than it is in summer? The answer has nothing to do with distance and everything to do with Earth’s tilt.
We often hear that Earth is about 93 million miles from the Sun, but this distance actually varies. In early January, Earth is about 91.4 million miles away, while in July, it’s farther at 94.5 million miles. So yes, during our coldest months, Earth is actually closer to the Sun!
But distance alone doesn’t control the seasons—if it did, then places like Australia wouldn’t have summer while we’re bundling up for a Saskatchewan winter.
To understand why, think of a flashlight. If you point it straight at the floor, the light forms a bright, concentrated circle. But if you tilt it, the light spreads out and becomes dimmer. The same thing happens with sunlight.
In the summer, the Sun is higher in the sky, shining more directly on Saskatchewan, delivering more concentrated energy and longer daylight hours. In the winter, the Sun sits lower, spreading its energy over a larger area. This means we get weaker sunlight, shorter days, and much colder temperatures.
You might think that the shortest day of the year—the winter solstice on December 21 or 22—would also be the coldest. But in Saskatchewan, the coldest temperatures usually hit in late January or February.
Why the delay? Even though we get the least amount of sunlight in December, Earth still holds onto some warmth from the previous months. Think about turning off an electric stove—it doesn’t cool down instantly but slowly loses heat over time. Similarly, Earth keeps losing energy to space for several weeks after the solstice, causing temperatures to keep dropping.
Saskatchewan’s land heats and cools much faster than the ocean. Unlike coastal areas, where water helps moderate temperatures, we live in a continental climate, meaning our winters are harsher and our summers are hotter. There’s nothing to trap heat in winter, which is why we can see extreme cold snaps, sometimes dipping below -40°C with wind chill.
So, despite being closer to the Sun in winter, Saskatchewan’s tilted position, weak sunlight, and the delayed cooling effect all combine to make February one of the coldest months of the year.
At least we can look forward to longer days and warmer temperatures ahead—spring is coming!
The Farmer’s Almanac predictions for February:
12th – 15th Fair Manitoba and points west, some snow Rockies and points east.
16th – 19thT empestuous skies for Louis Riel, Family Day weekend: Windy for Prairie Provinces, then stormy thru Alberta.
20th – 23rd Snow and flurries for Saskatchewan, Alberta, progressing eastward.
24th – 28th Fair, then turning wet for Alberta.
March:
1st – 3rd Mixed clouds and sun.
4th – 7th Unsettled over Rockies and points east.
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