Snowfall is expected in the North West, with a winter storm watch in effect. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Blizzard possible

Winter storm watch for the Battlefords, snowfall ahead

Jan 17, 2022 | 10:57 AM

Update: Snowfall is occurring throughout the region and freezing rain warnings are in effect for several areas, including the Battlefords.

The Battlefords and the rest of the northwest region of Saskatchewan are under a winter storm watch from Environment Canada.

A strong low pressure system coming through the province is bringing a mix of winter weather that will heavily impact southern Saskatchewan Monday night into Tuesday, with the possibility of affecting the centre of the province. This includes blizzard conditions.

Snowfall is expected to begin just ahead of the system, with a few centimetres in the Battlefords and as much as 10 cm when everything has fallen over night, though totals near 20 cm are possible near the Manitoba border. The larger concern is strong gusts of wind that could reach 70-80 km/h in some parts of the province, which will be around 40-60 km/h in the Battlefords. The combination could reduce visibility for driving to less than 400 metres for several hours tonight around the Alberta border.

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“The exact track of the low will determine how bad it will get for the Battlefords,” Meteorologist Kyle Fougere told battlefordsNOW.

“It’s really this evening where things are expected to deteriorate. We should at least see two to four centimetres of snowfall, with some freezing rain mixed in.”

The risk of freezing rain comes ahead of the current system, along a warm front on a line from the Battlefords to Estevan over the course of today. Fougere said the combination of low visibility and poor traction doesn’t bode well for motorists.

“It will be pretty poor conditions for driving,” Fougere said. “Though [the extent] depends on exactly where the system tracks.”

Another hazard for motorists is the quick drop in temperature. Environment Canada’s forecast is predicting a high of -4 C in the Battlefords this afternoon, dropping to -18 C overnight. Extreme cold wind chill values are possible for the evening.

The shift in wind from the north will result in a cooler week, with a low of -28 C overnight on Tuesday and a high of -23 C Wednesday. Thursday will see a jump back up near plus temperatures, with an afternoon high of -6 C.

“As the low pressure system moves through and drags some colder arctic air with it, we will see a pretty big change from what we’ve seen in the last couple days,” Fougere said.

(Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

Meadow Lake is not under a winter storm watch, but snowfall is expected at various points through to Tuesday, with the possibility of more than five centimetres in total. The temperatures drop is more severe, going from a high of -4 C to a an overnight low of -19 C, with Tuesday evening low reaching -30 C.

Travel is not recommended during these hazardous conditions, so residents in the Battlefords and surrounding region are advised to monitor the Highway Hotline to see how significantly the storm hits this area. Alerts and updates will also be issued by Environment Canada, while anyone who experiences severe weather can send an email to SKstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #SKStorm.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW