Weather whiplash: Alberta clipper brings wind, snowfall to Sask.

The winter warm-up was short-lived in Saskatchewan, now parts of the province are bracing for wind and snowfall.

Wind warnings are in place for the southwest corner of Saskatchewan, while communities in the north are in a snowfall warning.

Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the winds between 60-100 km/hr are expected to persist throughout Thursday and into the evening hours around the Kindersley area.

Both Regina and Saskatoon were also placed under blowing snow advisories on Thursday afternoon.

“(It’s) very, very windy at this point in time and it’s really associated with a larger scale system we’re seeing out there, which is an Alberta Clipper that’s developing up in north-central Alberta at this point in time and rapidly tracking south-eastward over the next 36 hours,” Proctor said.

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He said the area will experience lots of wind and also periods of light snow and blowing snow, however, winds will gradually ease overnight throughout the southwest.

He said the overnight winds would drop down to about 40-60 km/hr.

Environment Canada warns drivers that the blowing snow will result in poor visibility on the highways.

It said travel is expected to be “hazardous.”

It recommends postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve and ensuring shelter is provided for pets and outdoor animals.

Blowing snow advisories are issued when winds are expected to create blowing snow giving poor visibility to 800 metres or less for at least 3 hours.

Although Regina and Saskatoon were placed in blowing snow advisories, Proctor said neither should expect much in the way of snowfall.

“We’re seeing really intense snowfall in the Meadow Lake area, we’ve seen fairly significant snowfall amounts in La Ronge as well earlier on,” Proctor said.

“Right along the southern sort of tier of the Boreal forest is likely to see the heaviest snowfall.”

Travel was not recommended on some highways in the northern region of the province Thursday evening. Jan. 16, 2025 8:00 p.m.(Highway Hotline/screenshot) 

As of 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 16, travel was not recommended in the North Battleford, Turtleford, Loon Lake, Meadow Lake, Waskesiu Lake, Nipawin, Indian Head, Fort Qu’Appelle and Balgonie areas.

Proctor also said the southeast area of the province has the best chance of not experiencing this recent barrage of winter weather.

He also said the snowfall brought in from the Alberta clipper in the north is also expected to end overnight for areas like Prince Albert as it moves to the east. He said it would also end Friday morning for areas further east.

Areas in the north under a snowfall warning can see anywhere between 10 to 25 cm of snowfall overnight.

It’s expected to taper off by the morning of Jan. 17.

City of Saskatoon warns public of poor driving conditions

In a statement, the city said the strong wind gusts combined with falling snow will reduce visibility, potentially cover lane markings, create slippery conditions and snow drifts.

The city urges people to postpone non-essential travel on roads and sidewalks until conditions improve.

City crews are monitoring road conditions and tackling snow and ice on priority streets and busy intersections, However, the strong wind could blow sand and salt off the roads.

— with files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie