Spring snowstorm set to hit Sask. with heavy snow, freezing rain and high winds
Environment Canada says an Alberta clipper will make highway driving treacherous
An Alberta clipper is heading for Saskatchewan, bringing gusting winds, heavy wet snow and freezing rain, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
The system is expected to move into the province Thursday morning and could dump as much as 20 centimetres of snow across much of central Saskatchewan from Saskatoon to Yorkton.
"It's going to make for some pretty nasty travel conditions," said Danielle Desjardins, a meteorologist with ECCC.
Wintry weather is on the way to Sask. Watch for wet, heavy snow Thursday w/ 10-20 cm expected along the Yellowhead corridor, through Saskatoon & towards Yorkton. The risk of freezing rain to the south including in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Regina?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Regina</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/skstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#skstorm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SKGovHwyHotline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SKGovHwyHotline</a> <a href="https://t.co/0M9lGb9eOL">https://t.co/0M9lGb9eOL</a> <a href="https://t.co/LqaKNvTO4v">pic.twitter.com/LqaKNvTO4v</a>
—@ECCCWeatherSKDesjardins said areas just south of the heavy band of snow are in store for a mix of snow and freezing rain.
That area includes Regina, which received a weather alert Wednesday morning warning of "heavy, rapidly accumulating snowfall" coupled with a risk of freezing rain starting Thursday morning.
Desjardins said the system will also bring strong winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour, which will make driving hazardous.
"That's just going to exacerbate poor visibility with the already heavy falling snow."
She said the heaviest snowfall will happen Thursday, with the system moving out later in the day Friday.
Desjardins said people should avoid travel if possible, but if they have to be out on the roads, she recommended budgeting more time, as highway conditions will be poor.