Fluctuations in temperatures this week are resulting in hazardous conditions on roads and sidewalks. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By Josh Ryan

Melting/freezing

Changing weather causing icy road conditions

Mar 24, 2021 | 12:55 PM

Residents of Northwest Saskatchewan an unwelcome layer of snow cascade down on Monday and there could be more on the way.

According to Environment Canada, most of the region could see light snow between now and Thursday evening, with around five centimetres possibly falling. This comes as temperatures are rising and dropping around 0 Celsius. In an interview with battlefordsNOW, Meteorologist Terri Lang said a Jetstream is currently right over the middle part of the province, with various weather systems zipping along it like a rollercoaster.

“The Jetstream is sort of that delineator between cold air to the north and warm air to the south,” she said. “So, any time it takes little bit of a bobble, we’ll get warmer or colder accordingly.”

Meadow Lake is predicted to reach an overnight low of -9 C tonight, getting back up to -2 C by Thursday afternoon, with snow clearing in the late afternoon. The Battlefords will be slightly warmer, with an overnight low -4 C, then a high of 0 C on Thursday. Temperatures then warm up on the weekend, with a high of 5 C in both communities on Saturday and close to 10 C on Sunday.

Lang said with more snow expected, travellers need to keep that in mind before leaving. While the weekend will be warmer, she and others are keeping an eye on a system that is supposed to go through Sunday to Monday, bringing another possibility of snowfall.

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“Doesn’t take much snow to really mess up roads for travelling, especially when the temperature is right around that freezing mark,” Lang said. “March is a really volatile month for weather in Saskatchewan. It can get really warm, like we saw on the weekend, but it also gets cold.”

To best make travel plans, Lang said keep refreshing the forecast prior to departure.

“Always check the highway hotline before heading out, keep the snow tires on and keep that emergency kit in your car,” she said.

Battlefords RCMP Staff Sgt. Jason Teniuk said they’ve only had a few calls of minor accidents, but nothing major so far this week. However, they’ve seen plenty of reports of hazardous conditions in major parking lots for people walking. With the imminent snowfall predicted for the region, Teniuk said conditions could be far from ideal if there’s further melting and freezing.

It’s sloppy and tires tend to hydroplane on that sloppy ice when it’s just on the verge of melting,” he said. “So, definitely exercise caution.”

Like Lang, Teniuk said planning ahead is the best bet and advised residents to keep exercising caution.

“Take a little extra time for the next couple of days till this melts away and we’ll be back to our regular dry driving soon.”

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cjnbnews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports