‘Thunder snow’ could hit Saskatchewan as Alberta clipper blows into province: Meteorologist

Mother Nature is shuffling through the seasons on Tuesday, with snow, rain and even a thunderstorm expected to hit parts of Saskatchewan.

Environment Canada meteorologist Dan Fulton said the province can expect “a bit of a roller coaster ride” as a weather system makes its way into the province from Alberta, with “thunder snow” expected to hit both Regina and Saskatoon.

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“This is the time of year it happens. I’ve seen thunder snow a few times in my career. It’s unusual, but it’s not rare,” Fulton explained.

“It does happen with these dynamic, fast-moving systems that have a lot of dynamics working in their favour. It’s a pretty strong system coming through.”

Fulton said a late-season Alberta Clipper rolling into Saskatchewan on Tuesday is behind the mixed bag of weather.

“It’s a fast-moving system, so things change pretty quickly,” he said.

A snowfall warning from Environment Canada covered a large area of central Saskatchewan, with heavy snow expected to hit on Tuesday before tapering off overnight. Areas from Meadow Lake through Prince Albert and south through the Yorkton area are expected to get roughly 10-20 centimetres of snow.

A separate snowfall warning was also in effect in northwest Saskatchewan on Tuesday, with 15 cm of snow expected to fall before tapering off on Tuesday evening. The heaviest snow is expected in areas south of Île-à-la-Crosse and La Ronge.

South of the band of heavy snow, warmer temperatures and a thunderstorm are expected. A special weather statement on the thunderstorm covered an area stretching from Lloydminster through Saskatoon, Regina and Moosomin on Tuesday.

Weather alerts warning of snowfall and a thunderstorm were in effect for large areas of the province on Tuesday morning. (Environment Canada)

“We’re expecting temperatures to be pretty mild, like in the teens in far southern Saskatchewan,” Fulton said. “Regina will be about 10 C. We’re looking at a high of 15 C in Moose Jaw.”

But, Fulton added, the warmer temperatures aren’t expected to last for too long in southern Saskatchewan. He said “a sharp cold front” will follow the system through the area on Tuesday afternoon.

The meteorologist said the thunderstorm is expected to hit as the cold front moves through the milder air mass, but he expects the storm will be a brief one.

“Maybe even 15 to 30 minutes at the most,” Fulton estimated.

“I’d say it would probably be more likely you just hear a few peals of thunder, and that would be it.”

While Regina is set to get some light and blowing snow on Tuesday night, Fulton said it shouldn’t amount to much on the ground. Saskatoon can expect a little bit more snow, he said, as the Bridge City is closer to the colder part of the incoming air mass.

“There’s a chance of basically almost everything. It could be snow, could be rain showers, maybe a risk of freezing rain,” he said.

Fulton said 5-10 cm of snow could fall Tuesday night in Saskatoon before tapering off on Wednesday.

The latest updates on the weather alerts can be found on Environment Canada’s website.