Meteorologist says Saskatchewan could see even more snow next week

After a spring storm brought an unwelcome pile of snow to many parts of Saskatchewan on Thursday, a meteorologist is warning that the province might see even more snow next week.

According to Environment Canada, the late-season storm dropped about nine centimetres of snow on Regina on Thursday, while Saskatoon got about six cm. Snow was even heavier in the Kindersley area, where about 15 cm of snow was reported.

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But Environment Canada said some people are reporting much higher snowfall totals on social media, including unofficial reports of as much as 18 cm in Moose Jaw and 48 cm in Eatonia, near the Alberta border.

While the storm led to difficult conditions on roads and highways around the province, the only route where the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline was recommending against travel on Friday morning was Highway 44, just west of Eatonia.

Meteorologist James Colangelo says reports of up to 48 cm of snow have come in on social media from the Eatonia area, while Saskatoon officially got six cm. (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)

“Quite the late-season snow dump we saw in Saskatchewan yesterday,” said James Colangelo, an Environment Canada meteorologist.

“We definitely saw heavy snow as well as blowing snow as those northeasterly winds kind of blew it around.”

Colangelo said there are often mixed reports of snowfall totals after a storm, so he wasn’t surprised to see people coming up with different numbers online.

“Depending on where you are in the city, you can see different snowfall rates, as well as just different methods of measuring,” he explained.

Colangelo said the province can expect a chilly weekend as cold air lingers over the province in the wake of the storm, but temperatures should warm up significantly next week thanks to a ridge of warm air developing over the west coast of the U.S.

“We could see temperatures get up into the high teens and possibly the low 20s by midweek, so whatever’s left after the shovelling should melt away,” the meteorologist said.

It’s not quite barbecue season in Saskatchewan yet, with more snow expected to hit the province next week. (Brent Bosker/650 CKOM)

The bad news, however, is that it’s probably still too early to haul out your patio furniture. Colangelo said even more snow could be coming to the province after the warm-up provides a brief respite.

“Could see some showers on Wednesday into Thursday, and then as that system exits and the high pressure builds in, could see more snow by the end of next week,” Colangelo said.

The meteorologist said it’s still very early to make accurate predictions, but it appears that the western and northern parts of the province could see more snow, while the Regina area won’t be hit as hard as it was on Thursday.

“It doesn’t look as bad as this one, but it could be a fairly sizable low-pressure system that makes its way through,” Colangelo said.

Saskatoon says road crews ‘out in full force’

In Saskatoon, road crews are working to clear driving lanes after the snowfall. While Environment Canada reported six cm of snow in the Bridge Ciy, the City of Saskatoon says it recored 15 cm, prompting the city to declare a “snow event.”

The city said 24 graders, 10 sanders and four plows are working on high-priority routes like freeways, storing snow on medians, boulevards and parking lanes along the way.

The snowfall may cause some delays for Saskatoon Transit buses, the city said, and riders were encouraged to check the city’s service alerts website for updates.

“Drivers should adjust driving habits by slowing down and increasing following distances between vehicles,” the city said in a statement.

“Watch for blue and yellow flashing lights on road equipment and give operators the space they need to operate.”

–with files from 980 CJME’s Abby Zieverink