Blizzard warnings in place for much of Saskatchewan

Blizzard conditions are a real possibility for much of Saskatchewan on Monday.

Environment Canada meteorologist Shannon Moodie says people should brace for some wild weather as warnings and advisories blanket much of the province.

“It’s going to be unpleasant today, really beginning this morning before getting bad for a lot of regions this afternoon,” Moodie said. “And it will get worse into the evening.

“It’s a very complicated, messy system. There is a little bit of everything.”

Just before 11 a.m., the Highway Hotline said travel wasn’t recommended on the Yellowhead Highway between Maidstone and Marshall and on other highways in the Lloydminster and North Battleford areas.

Before the snow comes down, there is a chance for some freezing rain.

In total, parts of central and southern Saskatchewan could see anywhere from 10 to 15 centimetres or up to six inches of snow until Tuesday morning.

Wind gusts are expected to create whiteout conditions in places, with strong northwest winds gusting up to 90 kilometres per hour being a real possibility in parts of southern Saskatchewan.

There isn’t a blizzard warning in the Saskatoon region, but there is a blowing snow advisory.

Conditions could deteriorate as wind gusts up to 70 km/h are expected in the area. Those strong winds combined with falling snow will lead to widespread reduced visibility due to blowing snow despite there not being a blizzard warning.

Conditions are expected to improve overnight on Monday as snow tapers off and winds diminish.

“Because the fun never ends on the prairies in the winter, then it gets cold,” Moodie said. “Either snow and blowing snow or cold this winter, that’s what the trend seems to be.”

Temperatures will fall drastically overnight, and the cold weather is expected to stick around until at least Saturday.