Storm possible for southeast Sask., southwest getting freezing drizzle

Winter appears poised to return to some areas of Saskatchewan.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Wednesday morning for the southeastern corner of the province, including the Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle, Stoughton, Moosomin, Grenfell, Melville and Yorkton regions.

Then, just after 11:30 a.m., Environment Canada issued freezing drizzle advisories for the western part of the province, including Swift Current, Shaunavon, Maple Creek, The Battlefords and Lloydminster. The drizzle is expected to taper off Wednesday evening.

The Highway Hotline said travel wasn’t recommended on the Trans-Canada Highway from Mortlach to the junction with Highway 19 due to fog, icy sections, slush and heavy snow, but that advisory was lifted early Wednesday afternoon.

The weather service said a Colorado low is approaching the southeast, bringing with it a change in temperatures and what it called “a mixed bag of precipitation” that’s to start Wednesday evening.

“Periods of snow will begin this evening in southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba through the Interlake,” the advisory said. “Snow will end Thursday evening. Total accumulations of 10 to 15 (centimetres) in 24 hours are expected with the exception of up to 25 cm near the Riding Mountains.”

The advisory said snowfall warnings will likely be issued Wednesday afternoon for portions of western Manitoba, with a risk of freezing rain as well. It’s unknown if the warnings will cover parts of Saskatchewan.

“(There’s) not much in the way of winds with this Colorado low,” Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said.

“As Colorado lows go, it’s kind of a wimpy one. It hasn’t got much bite to it, but because we’ve been so lacking in snow, it’s good to draw attention to it.”

While temperatures will hover around 0 C, Lang says the precipitation will be mainly wet snow.

“Snowfall amounts look close to 10 centimetres, depending on where you are,” she said. “Maybe some of the higher terrain areas might pick up a bit more.”

Temperatures are expected to drop for the weekend and into next week, although Environment Canada said they’d still be warmer than normal.

More information is available on Environment Canada’s alerts page.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker