The Easter long weekend is off to a snowy start in Saskatchewan, with snowfall warnings and travel advisories in effect for parts of the province.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued snowfall warnings early Friday morning for east-central areas of the province.
Environment Canada meteorologist Rose Carlsen said the system came from the United States, but should be moving over into Manitoba by Saturday.
“There was kind of a weak low over Alberta that combined with one that was a little bit stronger in Montana. It’s travelling to the northeast, toward Regina,” said Carlsen.
“Regina is kind on the back end of it right now, and it’s more centred a little bit farther east, and it’ll be kind of travelling northeast through the day.”
She added that the central-east areas where the snowfall warning is in effect — from the rural municipality of Hudson Bay down through Yorkton and Esterhazy — can expect up to 10 centimetres of snow by Friday evening.
“There will probably be some lingering light flurries in behind, and then we’ll start to see more of a high-pressure regime building in this weekend.”
As of 9 a.m. CST, Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline website said travel was not recommended on a section of Highway 1, from around the Mortlach area, near Moose Jaw, to Rush Lake, close to Swift Current.
RCMP said earlier Friday the icy, snow-covered roads caused a backup of several semis near Parkberg and closed westbound lanes for a short period, until sanding trucks came.
Carlsen said south and central Saskatchewan are in for some calmer weather, with highs expected between –5 and zero, which means it will not be a fast melt.
