High winds and snow create poor driving conditions across southern Sask.

Southern Saskatchewan is getting hit with an icy blast of winter, with snow and high winds wreaking havoc on highways across the province.

Drivers texted News Talk Radio throughout the day, reporting ice and poor visibility on many highways. You can check highway conditions on the Saskatchewan Highways Hotline.

RCMP received 25 calls about collisions across the province between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Poor driving conditions continued throughout the day.

Around noon, a semi blocked westbound traffic for several hours on Highway 1 west of Regina near Pinkie Road. RCMP cleared the scene around 4 p.m.

Perry Seibe was driving on Highway 10 between Regina and Yorkton when he passed an STC bus that hit the ditch just before 1 p.m. STC says a gust of wind sent the bus sliding into a ditch near Otthon, just outside of Yorkton. There were three people on board and no one was hurt.

“The wind is terrible here and the road is solid ice,” Seibe said.

He passed several vehicles that hit the ditch on that highway.

“It’s just bad all over, it’s terrible driving conditions. I wouldn’t recommend anybody drive out here unless they absolutely have to.”

Four children were also okay after a school bus lost control on Highway 35 about 12 kilometres north of Tisdale. The bus flipped on its side into the ditch. The children were treated on the scene by EMS and released.

Throughout the day, high winds flipped gazebos and recycling bins across streets in Regina.

Inside the city, melting snow turned to ice as temperatures dropped on the drive home. Major streets were fairly clear, but there were slippery sections on side streets.

Environment Canada lifted official wind warnings for some areas on Wednesday afternoon.

CJME weather specialist John Wilson said the northwest wind will continue to howl through the night, gusting between 50 to 80 kilometres an hour. Temperatures are also expected to continue dropping overnight with blowing snow.

High winds are expected to start to die down on Thursday but cold temperatures will stick around with a low of minus 15 Celsius.

Heavy wind gusts snapped large trees today in Melville. #skstorm @TiffanyGlobal @LizPGlobal @ChristyCBC pic.twitter.com/HhvlhMn4NA

— Sean Schofer (@SeanSchoferTVN) November 18, 2015

Blowing #Snow in #Yorkton (Nov. 18) @ChristyCBC @LizPGlobal @SeanSchoferTVN @weathernetwork #skstorm #exploresask pic.twitter.com/7ISspvhFLi

— Ryan Crouse (@ryancrouse1) November 18, 2015