Strong winds, blowing snow hit Saskatchewan

A cold front swept into the province from Alberta on Monday morning, bringing winter weather and putting residents on alert for heavy snowfall and strong winds.

By Monday morning, Environment Canada had issued a weather alert for nearly every region in Saskatchewan.

“The main elements going on here, we’re looking at heavy snowfall along with strong winds. Snowfall-wise, we’re expecting accumulations of 10 to 15 centimetres, the heaviest amounts probably occurring up toward the Hudson Bay-Nipawin areas,” said meteorologist Mike Russo.

Russo said Kindersley and Saskatoon areas will likely see closer to 10 centimetres while communities in the far north could receive up to 25 cm.

Wind and blowing snow warnings are in effect for the southeast portions of the province. Russo expected snowfall to get heavier around noon, with Regina to get up to eight centimetres of accumulation, along with similar wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The winter weather followed a day of pleasant spring conditions, with six communities setting temperature records: Elbow, Last Mountain, Lucky Lake, Saskatoon, Watrous and Wynyard.

A sudden swing in weather is not unusual for this time of year in Saskatchewan.

“We often see our most intense storms during the transition seasons, whether it be fall time of spring time,” Russo said.

“This time of the year, pretty much anything goes, from really mild temperatures, what we experienced yesterday, to much cooler temperatures.”

Regina was the warmest spot in the province at 18.5 C but did not break a record.

Travel was discouraged around the broader Kindersley area, both by Highway Hotline and those living in the region.

“I’ve been here at this store since 6 (a.m.) and the visibility is quite low now. We used to be able to see down the highway but not anymore,” said Diane Kehrer, a worker at the Kindersley Co-op.

“(It’s) ugly. And heavy, heavy wind. Boy, if you didn’t have to go anywhere, I wouldn’t.”

Jenny Hagan shared a video on Twitter of the conditions in Kindersley at 7:45 a.m.

What is it like outside? Here@let me show you how beautiful this #skstorm is near Kindersley sk at 7:45 am pic.twitter.com/EW4AnAUzIB

— Jenny Hagan LostInSk (@LostInSk) March 29, 2021