Snowfall, freezing rain warnings in effect in central, southern Sask.

After days of hot and dry conditions, Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said Thursday that Saskatchewan is about to experience “weather whiplash.”

The weather service has issued snowfall warnings for regions across the province such as Hudson Bay, Humboldt, Melfort, Nipawin and Outlook areas.

As well, areas around Kamsack, Canora, Yorkton and Melville are under a freezing rain warning. A freezing rain warning for the Regina area has been lifted.

“A low pressure system over Montana is spreading wet snow and rain into southern Saskatchewan today,” the warning said. “With a cooler northerly flow now established over the area the precipitation is expected to fall mainly as wet snow, however a mixture of rain and snow is likely at times especially during the day.

Total snowfall accumulations could be be in the 10- to 15-centimetre range before it begins to taper off late Friday.

“It’s spring in Saskatchewan and I think the farmers will agree that any moisture that they can get, no matter what form it is, that will be helpful,” Lang said.

Lang said the weather system will be short-lived, with conditions to improve by Friday afternoon.

“Certainly, it will end sooner over the southwest sections as this system is moving from west to east,” she said.

Until then, she’s warning drivers to be careful on the roads.

“Most people have taken off their snow tires as well. Be careful with the driving, especially so close to freezing, the roads can … ice up,” Lang said.

Now that trees are blooming, she added branches can accumulate snow, break and take out power lines.

Over the weekend, temperatures will be cool with a risk of frost. Another weather system will move in on Monday but Lang said it will bring simply rain.

“Just don’t put out your bedding plants or tomato plants quite yet. (It’s) hard to plant in the snow or with the frost coming as well,” she said.

More information is available on the Environment Canada alerts page.