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Saskatchewan is in for a week of increasingly harsh winter weather, with freezing rain, icy highways and an extended cold snap all in the forecast, according to Environment Canada.
Meteorologist Dave Carlson said a weather system will build up in the province on Monday, starting with light snow in the north and bringing a risk of freezing rain to central and southern regions later in the day. He said the setup is typical for December, but the timing and temperatures will likely make travel tricky.
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The heaviest freezing rain risk will stretch from Kindersley southeastward through Moose Jaw and Regina, Carlson said, continuing into the overnight hours.
He said the most significant impact could be felt early on Tuesday morning.
“It’s going to be really slippery,” the meteorologist said. “Even into the morning drive on Tuesday, we could be seeing some fairly slick conditions.”
The system is expected to move out of Saskatchewan by the end of the day on Tuesday, but the province won’t get much of a break. An Arctic air mass is expected to drop into the province immediately afterward, bringing temperatures far below what the province typically sees in early December.
Seasonal highs for this time of year are around -10 C across the southern half of the province. This week, many communities will see daytime highs between -15 C and -20 C, with overnight lows dipping to around -25 C.
“Temperatures are going to plunge to well below normal values… quite a bit colder than usual for this time of year,” Carlson said.
He said the cold will be persistent, settling into the province for several days and likely stretching toward the end of the week. While brief flurries are possible behind the system, Carlson said no significant snowfall is expected beyond Monday’s northern band.
The shift to colder weather marks a sharp turn after a mild fall that held on across much of Saskatchewan well into November. Carlson said that warm stretch kept snow at bay longer than usual, but the province is now making up for lost time.
“That switch just got flipped,” he said.
“We were well above normal, and now we’re in the deep freeze.”
Environment Canada advised drivers to monitor highway conditions closely on Monday and Tuesday, noting that slick roads, black ice and reduced visibility may all play a role in Tuesday’s commute.
The latest updates on road conditions can be found on the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement covering central and southern Saskatchewan, warning of the rapidly changing conditions expected over the coming days. The latest updates on the weather alert can be found on Environment Canada’s website.
