After heavy snowfall, colder temperatures to set in: Environment Canada

After a major snowfall event, the temperatures will add another sign that winter is drawing nearer.

Environment Canada’s Shannon Moodie says the weather service doesn’t have official snowfall totals yet from the past couple of days.

The Alberta Clipper that came through had shut down highways at times and snow routes have been declared in Regina.

The City of Saskatoon said about 15 centimetres – or about six inches – of snow fell, which met the criteria of a “snow event” and the activation of private contractors to help city crews clear city roadways.

“We had a system that was moving through Saskatchewan that brought widespread snowfall and gusty winds,” Moodie said.

“The bulk of the system has really moved out of Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. There are some heavier flurries in the eastern part and central parts of Saskatchewan but that will improve throughout (Tuesday).”

But while the snow event is over, Moodie said another tell-tale sign that winter is coming will set in.

“Unfortunately the snow is moving out, but as things clear out, temperatures are going to be getting quite chilly,” Moodie said.

“For the next couple of days, we’re looking at overnight lows in through the minus-20s – mid-minus-20s. I feel like that will be a bit of a shock for people to feel those frosty temperatures.”

But as the weekend nears, the weather could start to feel a bit more seasonal.

And the slight warmup could come at a good time with two big football games taking place in the province on Saturday.

The Regina Thunder hosts the Okanagan Sun for the CJFL’s Canadian Bowl while the University of Saskatchewan Huskies host the UBC Thunderbirds in the Hardy Cup.

“It will be pretty chilly through mid-week to the end of the week but as the weekend rolls around, we will see some cloud moving in, maybe some flurries, and milder temperatures,” Moodie said.

“(There are) no major systems we are tracking right now. Just some flurries here and there.”