Late spring storm tears through Saskatchewan

After days of clear skies, Saskatchewan will welcome rain and snow for the next few days. Sierra D’Souza Butts has your forecast.

Another strong low-pressure system is bearing down on Saskatchewan, bringing yet another round of winter-like conditions as the province moves further into spring.

Environment Canada is forecasting heavy snowfall for much of the province, with accumulations of 40 to 70 centimetres (cm) possible for regions of the far north.

Further south, Saskatoon and Prince Albert are expected to receive 15 to 20 cm by Friday evening. Much of southern Saskatchewan remains under wind warnings.

The latest updates can be found below.

10:26 AM

Several highways in Saskatchewan’s southwest have been closed.

Highway 18 from Glen Mcpherson to Rockglen was closed due to zero visibility thanks to heavy swirling snow.

The section of Highway 2 north of the West Poplar point of entry on the Montana border in addition to Highways 358, 19 and 58 have also been closed due to similar conditions.

The U.S. port of entry in Opheim, Montana reported it was closed Thursday due to “inclement weather.”

Travel is not recommended for many of the highways north of the area experiencing closures but south of Highway 1.

Travel is also not recommended for the Trans-Canada Highway from Mortlach to Belle Plaine.

8:37 AM

Wind warnings have been issued for most of southern Saskatchewan.

The yellow warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) includes the communities of Estevan, Weyburn, Swift Current, Maple Creek, Moose Jaw, Regina, Fort Qu’Appelle and Indian Head.

Wind gusts of 90 to 100km/h are possible. The weather service warns that local utility outages are possible.

8:36 AM

A snowfall warning is now in effect for a large but narrow silver of central Saskatchewan including the province’s most populous city.

The warning extends as far south as Elbow and extends north, over the tree line, towards Montreal Lake.

Major communities under the warning include Saskatoon and Prince Albert.