Snowfall, strong winds expected to end Tuesday

Communities in southeast Saskatchewan near the Manitoba border were hit hardest by recent snowfall.

In areas where snowfall warnings remain, around Kamsack, Yorkton, Moosomin and Carlyle, Environment Canada meteorologist Jason Knight said about 20 centimetres was recorded.

Knight said there was also significant snowfall near Regina.

“We’ve got that heavy band through the night, picked up a quick 10 centimetres there about,” he said.

“It’s a bit hard to tell with the drifting and that’s going to be the ongoing concern for most of the morning there in the Regina area, that continued reduced visibility and blowing snow.”

The weather forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway from Balgonie to Broadview to the east of Regina and from Regina to Belle Plaine to the west.

Highway 39 from Estevan to Midale, Highway 33 from Francis to Stoughton and Highway 48 between highways 47 and 35 also were closed.

Travel also wasn’t recommended on a number of highways in the southeast and around Regina.

The Saskatchewan RCMP said it received 24 calls overnight about collisions due to the weather. The Mounties also answered 15 calls for assistance after vehicles got stuck on roads or in ditches.

The RCMP added those numbers could be higher, since some calls may have gone directly to detachments.

Blowing snow advisories are in place for Regina and the region near Moose Jaw, Fort Qu’Appelle, Assiniboia and Estevan.

However, Knight said the weather system should not last much longer. At midday, wind gusts should abate from 60 kilometres per hour to about 20 km/h. That should put an end to the blowing snow.

“That’s the good news. Things definitely trending downward today,” he said.

Knight said Regina can expect another five centimetres of snow to fall on Tuesday.