Stormy weather to hit parts of Saskatchewan

People planning highway travel around the province this weekend may have to watch out for blizzard conditions.

After a week of warm spring-like temperatures and sun, the first weekend of March is expected to come in with a blast of snow to remind everybody winter is not over on the Prairies.

Parts of Saskatchewan including Saskatoon were placed under winter storm watches and warnings Friday with a winter storm expected to roll in from Alberta through the day and continuing all day Saturday.

“We’re looking at a good five to 10 centimetres of snow pretty much across all of southern Saskatchewan over the weekend and some blowing snow in open areas,” said Environment Canada meteorologist David Baggaley.

Saskatoon is expected to get closer to 10 centimetres, or four inches.

Baggaley explained the high winds could be a bigger concern on the highways.

“We’re also looking at continued easterly 30 gusting to 50 (km/hour) winds, there will be some lower visibility in there as well with some snow and blowing snow,” he said.

Regina should escape the worst of the storm but may see a skiff of snow Friday night and more light snow Saturday.

Environment Canada’s John Paul Cragg said Regina will more than likely get about 10 centimetres of snow from the storm.

“As far as blowing snow is concerned, the warmer you get the better – the less blowing snow you normally get, but again it’s just a matter of a lot of snow falling at once and just falling snow will give you pretty poor visibility at times,” Baggaley said.

Anyone planning to head out on the highways might want to check the Highway Hotline for updates on driving conditions.

Weather advisory warns of winter storm to hit south Sask. on Sunday

Later Monday morning Environment Canada issued a special weather statement about another winter storm coming up from Colorado to include Regina and areas across east and the southeast part of the province. The Colorado low system is described as “significant” and is expected to hit Sunday night and will bring a lot of heavy snow and blowing snow to the southern part of the province in a storm which could last until Tuesday.

Cragg said the southeast corner of the province is going to be hit the most by the Colorado low system.

He said if Regina is hit by both systems, there could be quite a bit of snow on the ground Monday. Cragg said they put out the weather statement as a precaution but there’s a chance Regina doesn’t get hit with any extreme weather.