Highways closed as southeastern Sask. pummelled by blast of winter weather

Highways in southeastern Saskatchewan were closed Wednesday morning as a spring storm slammed into the province.

According to the Highway Hotline, the closures affected Highway 6 from the United States border to the Highway 39 junction, Highway 9 from Carlyle to the U.S. border, Highway 13 from Highway 6 to the Manitoba border, Highway 18 between highways 6 and 35 and from Bienfait to the Manitoba boundary, Highway 28 from Trossachs to Lake Alma, Highway 33 from Regina to Stoughton, Highway 35 from Odessa to the U.S., Highway 39 from Moose Jaw to the U.S. boundary, and Highway 48 from Emerald Park to Peebles.

Travel also wasn’t recommended on a number of roads, including the Trans-Canada from Regina to Mortlach and from Regina to Qu’Appelle, the Regina Bypass, Highway 2 from Moose Jaw to Rockglen, Highway 6 south of Regina, and Highway 10 from Balgonie to Fort Qu’Appelle.

Road conditions prompted the Prairie South School Division to cancel several bus routes for the afternoon. Those cancellations were on Assiniboia 1-10, Avonlea 1-4, Bengough 1-4, Caronport, CFB, Coronach 1-4, Gravelbourg 1-5, Kincaid 1-5, Lafleche 1-5, Moose Jaw Rural 1-21, Mortlach 1-3, Mossbank 1-4, Rockglen 1-5, and Rouleau 1 and 2.

The snowfall warning issued Tuesday afternoon by Environment Canada was still in effect in the Regina and Moose Jaw areas Wednesday morning. Many communities were under winter storm warnings, including Weyburn, Estevan and Carlyle.

Meteorologist Chris Stammers said 15 to 25 centimetres of snow could be on the ground in Regina by the end of Wednesday.

“The snow will actually continue through the day on Thursday and into Thursday night as well before finally pulling out of the province overnight on Thursday,” Stammers said.

He added heavy snowfall should last for most of Wednesday, beginning to ease Wednesday night into Thursday.

Wind gusts of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour are expected.

“There will likely be blowing snow, so especially in open areas, we’re looking a hazardous travel conditions,” the meteorologist said.

Weyburn, Estevan and Carlyle are going to be harder hit than Regina and could get up to 40 centimetres of snow.

Storm chaser Jenny Hagan was in the Weyburn area when she spoke with the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Wednesday morning.

Asked what it felt like when she stepped outside her vehicle at a gas station, Hagan laughed.

“It’s like a really brisk exfoliation of the face because it’s a little bit icy,” she said. “I call it your Saskatchewan facial for the day — a little spa treatment.”

Hagan said the roads were covered in heavy snow and the wind was blowing around the snow that was falling.

“That slush (on the road) can pull you around a lot and then you get that ice buildup underneath,” Hagan said. “Travel, when (the Highway Hotline) says it’s not recommended, I highly recommend you take that seriously because those conditions can deteriorate rapidly out there.”

Road conditions in the SE of Saskatchewan are deteriorating quickly as the snow moves in #skstorm near Weyburn. Travel not recommended all around Estevan at the moment. Expecting that to expand as this system moves in. Reporting through the day with @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/Eg8DNcmepg

— Jenny Hagan LostInSk (@LostInSk) April 19, 2023

Oren Naka, a cashier in Estevan, said it was very windy with snow blowing everywhere.

“If (someone walked outside), it (would hit them) in the face like rain would hit (them) in the face,” Naka said. “If (someone) had to travel from outside of town to Estevan, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Asim Shemi works at a gas station in Moose Jaw. He said there was snow all over the place and visibility was reduced.

“The roads are not good … and sometimes there’s like black ice or something like that,” Shemi said.