Warmer temperatures, some snow on the way for Saskatchewan

The good news from Environment Canada on Friday was that the bitter cold Saskatchewan has been dealing with is about to end.

The bad news was that snowy, blustery weather is about to start.

“We’ve been dealing with this really stagnant pattern of cold air entrenched over the prairies, and this first low-pressure system is going to change that pattern,” Environment Canada meteorologist Sara Hoffman said. “We’ll push aside that colder air and move it towards the east, but it will also set up a stormier pattern …

“Boxing Day, and later on next week, we expect to have some low-pressure systems forming and moving through the area. It could lead to some run-of-the-mill winter weather — a few flurries here and there and some gusty winds here and there — but it will keep the temperatures closer to normal for the rest of the week.”

Extreme cold warnings remained in place across much of Saskatchewan on Friday afternoon, with wind chill values in some areas reaching -40 C or -50 C. At around 4 p.m., though, the extreme cold warnings for the western half of the province were lifted.

Hoffman said the warmup will start Saturday, with temperatures to get closer to normal by Sunday and continuing into the final week of 2022.

“(Boxing Day will still be) a little bit below seasonal, but (it’ll be) a lot calmer day than Christmas Day,” Hoffman said. “(It’ll be) a better day for going out and returning things perhaps or buying things.

“But then after Boxing Day or later on next week, we get much warmer temperatures from what we’ve been seeing (and) much closer to the normal mark.”

According to Environment Canada’s forecast, five to 10 centimetres of snow could fall in the Regina area Saturday night while the temperature rises. The high for Sunday in Regina is expected to be -13 C, with a high Monday of -5 C and a high Tuesday of -1 C.

Saskatoon also could get five to 10 centimetres of snow Saturday. The forecast for the Bridge City is calling for a high Sunday of -15 C, a high Monday of -8 C and a high Tuesday of -3 C.

While snow is in the forecast, Hoffman said it’s not expected to be overly heavy.

“At this point in time, we’re not expecting anything too too big — nothing compared to what central Canada and B.C. are dealing with at this point in time,” Hoffman said.

“I will say that the evening of Christmas Eve into the morning of Christmas Day, we’ll be dealing with a little bit of snow and blowing snow. If you have plans to be on the highways early Christmas Day morning, you might want to check the Highway Hotline before you go out. There could be some localized restrictions to visibility and blowing snow and heavy falling snow.”