Blowing snow advisories issued for areas of Saskatchewan

Big winds expected to buffet Saskatchewan resulted in a blowing snow advisory for areas of the province Monday.

Environment Canada issued the advisory just after 11 a.m., for areas including Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, North Battleford and Delisle.

“Strong winds with gusts to 80 (kilometres per hour) will develop across southwestern Saskatchewan this afternoon,” the advisory said. “Areas of reduced visibilities in blowing snow are likely as a result of the strong winds.”

The weather service said the winds will subside overnight.

The blowing snow was expected to cause reduced visibility on streets and highways, and advisories started popping up on the Highway Hotline in the early afternoon.

Highway 26 from St. Walburg to Loon Lake was closed due to the conditions, while travel wasn’t recommended on highways in the North Battleford, Rosetown and Lloydminster areas. That included the Yellowhead Highway from Maymont to the Alberta border.

A crash on Highway 7 three kilometres east of McGee — between Rosetown and Fiske — also affected travel on that highway.

A caller to the 980 CJME newsroom just after 1:30 p.m., said the Trans-Canada Highway east of Regina had near-whiteout conditions, with tow trucks pulling semis out of the ditch.

Environment Canada suggested drivers should postpone non-essential travel until the conditions improve.