Heavy fog descends over Regina, most of Saskatchewan

Dense fog is being reported across much of the province to begin the week of Christmas, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

As of 10 a.m. Monday, much of the province was covered by advisories, with exception of the southwest corner, including Maple Creek, Leader and Eastend, in addition to regions north of Prince Albert, Nipawin and Meadow Lake.

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In the advisories, ECCC warned that although the fog is expected to thin throughout the day, there is also a chance that conditions will redevelop by the evening.

Hoar frost as seen in Regina on Dec. 22, 2024. (Gareth Dillistone/CTV News)

In addition to visibility issues, the fog will likely lead to slippery driving conditions.

"Winds will eventually shift to the west which should dissipate the fog," the ECCC advisory read.

According to Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with ECCC, sustained winds are vital to pushing the fog out.

"We need more circulation to really push and mix the air mass to a large degree. So until we start seeing more wind across the area, we're likely going to continue to be plagued through fog through the overnight and morning hours. So we may hold this right through Christmas Day. We may hold it even after Christmas Day. We really do need to see some circulation in there," he explained.

Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline also listed visibility as "poor" for roadways in central and southern Saskatchewan.

As residents get ready to travel for Christmas festivities, Proctor has some advice to ensure everyone gets to their destination safe and sound.

"It's really important to slow down, take your time, and really be aware of what the conditions are like around you," he explained.

"It's a hectic time of the year. People want to be getting out with family, want to be visiting as much as they possibly can and sometimes you overlook those kind of conditions that are out there. So really slow down and adjust your driving habits to the conditions that are out there. And really, if you have to travel, travel through the daytime hours, don't travel through the overnight."

Updates to the advisories can be found here.

Fog advisories were issued for large swaths of Saskatchewan on Dec. 22, 2024, including in both Regina and Saskatoon. (David Prisciak/CTV News)