Highways around Regina affected by whiteout conditions

It’s a nightmare day on highways across southern Saskatchewan.

Travel isn’t recommended on most major highways into and out of Regina due to near zero visibility.

Highways that were closed early Tuesday had been reopened by mid-morning, but the Highway Hotline was advising drivers to stay off the roads.

Only one stretch of highway remained closed: A collision on Highway 6 four kilometres south of Regina had vehicles blocking both lanes.

Travel wasn’t advised on the Trans-Canada Highway from Balgonie to Rush Lake, on the Regina Bypass, on Highway 6 on stretches both north and south of Regina, and on Highway 33 from Regina to Stoughton.

Travel also wasn’t recommended on Highway 39 from Moose Jaw to Estevan, on Highway 13 from Weyburn to Carlyle and on numerous other highways across southern Saskatchewan. The area was being battered by snow and strong winds from an Alberta Clipper.

Just after 9 a.m., a blizzard warning was issued by Environment Canada for the Estevan-Carlyle area while a winter storm watch remained in place for Regina and other areas in the south.

“You could see nothing. The snow was just overwhelming,” said Joe, who was on Highway 4 between Kyle and Swift Current.

“For the most part, don’t be out there.”

The conditions were bad enough to force Kris to seek refuge in a treed farmyard west of Estevan where he plans to wait until daylight before continuing on.

“I’ve been driving 30 years and have never pulled over,” he said. “At the end I was doing 40 (kilometres per hour) and couldn’t see anything.”

Storm chaser Jenny Hagan tweeted a video showing the intense wind south of Swift Current.

Really intense out there south of swift current #skstorm pic.twitter.com/YwKc6rbCuK

— Jenny Hagan LostInSk (@LostInSk) January 18, 2022

Conditions are rapidly changing, so monitor the Highway Hotline for updates.