Fog patches blanket much of Saskatchewan, reducing visibility

Environment Canada has warned drivers to “be prepared for areas of near-zero visibility” due to the patches of dense fog that are blanketing much of the province.

Fog advisories covered central and southern Saskatchewan on Monday morning, stretching north past Prince Albert. Only the southwestern corner of the province was not included in the alert area.

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“The fog will thin somewhat throughout the day, but will likely persist in many areas and redevelop this evening,” the weather service explained in a statement.

David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment Canada, told 980 CJME’s Greg Morgan Morning Show that the fog will likely burn off around noon. He said the change in weather was caused by Arctic air moving up towards the North Pole, allowing warmer Pacific air to move into the region.

Environment Canada emphasized that drivers should use plenty of caution as the weather reduces visibility and creates slippery road surfaces.

“Motorists should be prepared to deal with areas of near-zero visibility, even if conditions at the moment are good,” Environment Canada noted.

“Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility.”

Phillips said he expects the “delightful” warm weather to stick around until after Christmas, though temperatures will remain below freezing.

“Christmas day could be 10 degrees warmer than normal, (but) still below the freezing mark,” he said.

“What you see now is what you’re going to get.”

The latest information on the weather alerts can be found on Environment Canada’s website, and road conditions can be tracked using Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline.