Saskatchewan's deep freeze follows balmy 30 C weather

Many Saskatchewanians woke up Friday to snow, frost and freezing temperatures a dramatic changeafter much of the province saw 30 C temperaturesearlier this week.

Several people were surprised and sent CBC Saskatchewan pictures of the snowfall from across the province.

Dean Kreutzer, co-owner of Over the Hill Orchards and Winery,said in the 21 years he's beenrunning hisbusiness he's never seen weather like this during the blooming season.

Kreutzer, whose business islocated between Regina and Lumsden, about 30 kilometres northwest of the capital, said it's difficult to grow an orchard when the trees have to deal with varying temperatures.

Orchard impact unknown

"They don't know whether they're wanting to grow or they have to go dormant for the winter," he said. "It's definitely a challenge for them."

Kreutzer said it was a real shock this morning to go out and see ice around all of the stems and twigs in the orchard.

He said it's too soon to tell what the freezing weather will mean for his blossoms.

"It's the first time it's happened so, it has the potential to kill the blossoms and if the blossoms [freeze] then we don't get any fruit in our cherries this year," he said.

"When the blossoms are opened and when it's raining and windy and all of that, there's no bees that do the pollinating, and also when it's wet the pollen needs to be dry, so if it's not dry, then the pollen is inviable."

He said while some people were happy the province got some rain, thefreezing rain is a "mixed blessing." Meanwhile, others had to contend with snow.

Kreutzer said hisbusinesskeeps fruit in storage from previous years, but it would be challenging to make the wine and cherry products without fruit growing in the orchard. He said they may get help from other growers depending on their situation.

"We'll have to see what happens," he said. "Hopefully it's a once in a lifetime thing."

According to Environment Canada, it is set to warm up to a high of 14 C over the long weekend, with rain expected Sunday and Monday.

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