Snowfall and winter storm warnings issued as Colorado Low expected to impact southern Sask.
A Colorado Low could potentially bring upwards of 40 centimetres of snow to parts of southern Saskatchewan from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday.
Snowfall and winter storm warnings were issued for parts of east central and southeastern Saskatchewan just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, upgraded from a winter storm watch.
Pats of western Manitoba were also upgraded to winter storm and snowfall warnings Tuesday afternoon.
Environment and Climate Change Canada said rain mixed with snow is expected to change solely to snow overnight on Tuesday with the heaviest snowfall expected Wednesday morning.
Total accumulations of all precipitations could exceed 30 millimetres in some regions, according to Environment Canada.
Warning and preparedness meteorologist Terri Lang said areas southeast of Regina and into the Manitoba Parklands are expected to get hit the hardest, where wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour are also being forecasted.
“In particular the Estevan, Carlyle and Moosomin areas look like it will get the bulk of the snow, upwards of 40 centimetres,” Lang said. “Areas bordering that could receive up to 25 centimetres of snow,” Lang added.
Saskatoon and the surrounding area are not under any alerts as of Tuesday morning, but Lang said snow is expected there as well.
“We’re just not expecting it to reach the criteria for warnings that we need,” Lang said of the areas bordering the alert.
WHAT IS A COLORADO LOW?
Lang said a Colorado Low is a low-pressure system that sounds a lot like it is, a low that develops over the state of Colorado.
“This isn’t a true Colorado Low, it’s a little bit of a hybrid, but Colorado Lows are lows that develop in that area and they kind of take a left-hand turn and head north and they can clip Saskatchewan and often hit southern Manitoba,” Lang said.
Lang said mid to late April is one of the most common times to see a Colorado Low impact the region.
“What makes them significant is they’re able to draw moisture from the south, so they tend to bring the heaviest snows with them and we tend to have lots of wind with them as well,” Lang said.
“Our heaviest snows often occur in springtime and fall because of Colorado Lows,” she said.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Road conditions are also expected to deteriorate throughout the day Tuesday, with Environment Canada saying visibility and heavy snow will be concerns in some areas.
Up-to-date highway conditions can be found here.
Lang said those planning to travel should consider postponing for the time being.
“If they [people] are thinking about travelling Wednesday or Thursday they might want to consider postponing that because travel will be quite challenging,” Lang said. “Check the Highway Hotline before heading out and check the weather forecast.”
Lang said just because you might not be in a warning area it doesn’t mean you won’t be impacted by the storm.
Saskatchewan RCMP echoed Environment Canada's warnings in a news release, reminding drivers to be aware of road conditions and potential closures.
"If you decide to travel, ensure your vehicle has lots of fuel and that you have extra warm clothes, snacks, water, a phone charger and a snow shovel on hand," RCMP said.
"Also consider stocking your vehicle with traction mats, a tow rope or chain and a booster cable."
Early Wednesday morning travel was not recomended on a number of highways southwest of Regina, including much of Highway 39 between Weyburn and Moose Jaw, as well as Highway 1 through Moose Jaw, according to the Highway Hotline.
Temperatures are expected to hover around zero in Regina until Monday. The normal daytime high this time of year for the Queen City is about 14 C, with the average overnight low around -1 C.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.