‘The first one’: Environment Canada expecting winter conditions

Mild conditions can only last so long.

Environment Canada is forecasting snow to start falling in many places throughout the province either Tuesday or Wednesday.

As of Tuesday morning, many central and southeastern portions of the province have a special weather statement advising people that anywhere from two to four inches of snow could fall by Thursday morning. Freezing rain also is a possibility.

Dave Phillips with Environment Canada says the system should be much more tolerable compared to what was experienced this time last year.

“I don’t think it’ll be memorable. I think at the end of the winter, we won’t even remember it,” Phillips said. “I know that only 10 days in November doesn’t tell you very much, but we’ve had temperatures seven degrees warmer than normal.

“This system is an important one because it’s the first one.”

The snow that does come down isn’t expected to last too long, according to Phillips.

“The ground is so warm that any of the white stuff that falls won’t have a chance,” he said.

The Regina area does not have a special weather statement as of Tuesday morning, and Phillips added the region will most likely get less snow than Saskatoon when the snow does come.

Conditions in areas east of Saskatchewan are expected to be more treacherous as the weather system strengthens into southern Manitoba.

“I think it’s going to be worse in Manitoba because they’re going to combine this Alberta Clipper with a Texas low and, boy, that’s really going to make an issue for them,” Phillips said.

Alberta Clippers are fast-moving winter weather systems originating from the Canadian Rockies, while a Texas low is a low-pressure system that is responsible for creating strong blizzards.

An up-to-date look at changing conditions can be found by clicking here.