Murray Wood: How do dogs know who the soft touch is for treats?
How do dogs know who the soft touch is for treats? Murray is wondering because it seems that often ... the soft touch is...
No more snow is expected for the Regina area, while Saskatoon can expect more flurries into the evening and overnight.
Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the snow that began Thursday morning in Regina as freezing rain is now moving out of that part of the province.
The snowfall warning for Regina ended just before 4 p.m. on Thurs, April 16. Later in the evening, Saskatoon’s alert also lifted.
Read more:
- Snow slows traffic west of Prince Albert, travel not recommended around Lloydminster
- Gov’t declines NDP motion to suspend provincial gas tax
- Province to review farm security act after no evidence of foreign farm land ownership found
“It looks like it’s finally starting to ease off a bit,” Lang said on Thursday afternoon.
Lang estimated Regina received between eight and 10 centimetres – between three and four inches – of snow from the storm, though she noted the total amount has not been measured yet.
Winds are expected to continue into the evening, causing some heavy drifting snow and some “random stray flurries here and there.” Mostly, Lang predicted the conditions will be “brisk and windy and bitterly cold.”
The worst of the storm has moved to the north, Lang said. Snow in Saskatoon will continue likely through the afternoon and into the evening, then ease off in the evening-to-overnight period.
Heavy snow was falling in Regina on Thursday, with Environment Canada warning that the Queen City could see 10-20 cm of snow throughout the day. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)
“By time folks wake up in the morning, it should be should be done,” Lang predicted, estimating Saskatoon’s snowfall between the eight and 10 cm range, as well.
While some stray flurries or storm leftovers might linger, Lang said no more significant snow accumulation should fall on Friday.
Lang reminded people to check the Highway Hotline before travelling, due to some highway closures in and around southern Saskatchewan throughout the course of the storm.
Drivers describe whiteout highway conditions in parts
As heavy snow and wind slams parts of Saskatchewan Thursday afternoon, drivers are describing conditions bordering on whiteout.
Between Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, a driver told 980 CJME that conditions near Chamberlain were significantly worse, with highways fully snow-covered and icy with low visibility.
Blowing snow from passing trucks and dangerous driving behaviour on highways are adding to already hazardous conditions that drivers are concerned about.
Matthew Sandell said he saw a quick change to roadway conditions south of Davidson.
“Since I hit Chamberlain and got on Highway 2 and headed south, by the time I hit the hill going down the road through the Qu’Appelle Valley, very, very heavy, completely snow-covered,” Sandell said.
The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline is recommending against travel in some northern, eastern and western parts of the province. (Government of Saskatchewan)
Sandell noted visibility as one of his biggest driving concerns on Thursday afternoon.
“(It’s) extremely slippery with ice underneath the road, heavy trucks blowing snow, next to zero visibility – there (are) a couple of cars that got pushed off the road,” he reported, adding that risky driving is only making bad conditions worse.
“Not advised to stop, whatsoever. I’ve got vehicles in front but I’ve also had a couple of, what we would call ‘ignorant’ drivers out here passing,” he said.
RCMP, Regina police report snowstorm collisions
“For what we hope is the final time this season (fingers crossed), Saskatchewan RCMP reminds the public to check highway conditions before travelling during today’s snowstorm,” Saskatchewan RCMP stated in a release on Thursday afternoon.
Mounties reported that its division operational communications centre received 12 collision reports and no calls of weather-related stranded vehicles or traffic hazards between 4 p.m. on April 15 and 8 a.m. on April 16.
Regina police, meanwhile, reported eight calls for service related to collisions between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on April 16. One collision resulted in minor injuries, according to a statement from Regina police, though the driver did not require treatment from paramedics.
“It is unclear how many of these were a direct result of the weather/road conditions but the weather did appear to play a factor in some of them,” Regina police stated.
“Conditions are anticipated to further deteriorate through the day today,” RCMP said, advising drivers to check weather and road conditions before driving and considering delaying travel around the storm when possible.
If it is necessary to travel, RCMP advised drivers stay on roads that have recently received maintenance. Information on road conditions, including salting, plowing and sanding efforts completed on highways within the last two hours can be found on the Highway Hotline.
People in the province are being reminded by RCMP to refrain from calling 911 or local RCMP detachments with road condition updates.
“Calling 911 must be reserved for emergencies and crimes in progress and using it in non-emergent situations could prevent someone with a life-threatening emergency from getting help,” Mounties cautioned in the release.
“Here’s hoping we can switch from shovels to sunscreen soon, Saskatchewan.”
Earlier estimates predicted higher snowfall
Environment Canada is warning that some parts of central and southern Saskatchewan could be hammered by as much as 25 cm of snow on Thursday.
The weather service had a snowfall warning in effect on Thursday morning, covering an area including Regina, Weyburn, Estevan, Moose Jaw and Swift Current.
“Generally 10 to 15 cm of snow is expected, with pockets up to 25 cm in heavier bands of snow,” Environment Canada said in a statement.
“Visibility will be reduced in heavy snow in combination with moderate northeasterly winds. Travel may be challenging, particularly along the Trans-Canada Highway from the Alberta border to Regina, and along Highway 11 from Regina to Saskatoon.”
Snowfall warnings from Environment Canada covered much of central and southern Saskatchewan on Thursday, with nearly a foot of snow possible in some areas. (Environment Canada)
Regina, where snow started to fall on Thursday morning, can expect 10 to 20 cm of snow throughout the day, Environment Canada warned.
Saskatoon was not included in the warning area, but the forecast showed that residents of the Bridge City can expect about five cm of snow on Thursday, with another five to 10 cm falling overnight.
The snowfall is expected to ease starting on Thursday evening as the system makes its way out of Saskatchewan.
“There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic,” Environment Canada cautioned. “Visibility will likely be reduced at times. Road closures are possible.”
The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline was recommending against travel on some routes in the southeastern corner of the province on Thursday morning, including highways around Moosomin, Carlyle and Oxbow.
Travel was also not recommended on some routes in the Gravelbourg area southeast of Swift Current, and on some highways in the Tobin Lake area.
Meanwhile, a stretch of Highway 11 between Regina and Lumsden was closed on Thursday morning.
The latest updates on the weather alerts can be found on Environment Canada’s website, and current road conditions can be viewed on the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline’s interactive map.
