The area in orange is under a severe snowfall warning with up to 35 cm of snow expected between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday night. (Image Credit: Screenshot/weather.gc.ca)

By Teena Monteleone

Severe snowfall warnings

Heavy snowfall warning brings winter back to Saskatchewan

Feb 17, 2026 | 11:11 AM

The forecast confidence is ‘high’ and so is the impact level, as parts of Saskatchewan brace for a huge dump of snow.

Environment Canada issued a severe snowfall warning for Meadow Lake southeastward to Estevan. Danielle Desjardins, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said a low pressure system that’s developed over Montana is expected to bring total snowfall amounts up to 35 cm in some areas, especially Meadow Lake and Prince Albert.

“It’s bringing in a lot of moisture in from the southwest. These systems typically, they’ve got a lot of energy to work with all the moisture,” Desjardins said. “We could see upwards of 35 cm once this is said and done and the first wave is already ongoing. We have gotten reports of at least 6 cm in Meadow Lake and about 5 cm in Cold Lake [near Pierceland] and that’s just the beginning with this first wave that we are expecting to persist today, tonight and into tomorrow.”

Around 7:30 a.m., the Meadow Lake Home Hardware Building Centre posted on its social media page that the blowing snow had already accumulated at the front door. The store also posted that it had lots of snow clearing equipment in stock. (Image Credit: Meadow Lake Home Hardware Building Centre/Facebook)

Gusty winds out of the northeast at about 60 km/h in those regions will also result in poor visibility. Since the accumulation of snow will happen quite rapidly, Desjardins said it could lead to some high drifts because of the blowing snow.

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“Travel is going to be very, extremely difficult, if not hazardous, with the accumulating snow as well as the reduced visibility and blowing snow. We are expecting travel conditions to be treacherous for about the next 36 hours. It will have an impact on the day-to-day and, of course, may shut down highways if the visibility becomes that poor.”

As of 10 a.m., the Highway Hotline was reporting poor visibility, snow drifts and swirling snow on highways around Meadow Lake.

The Highway Hotline camera showing Highway 3 at Paradise Hill on Tuesday morning. Travel is not recommended on this highway and others between Lloydminster, Pierceland and Glaslyn. (Image Credit: hotline.gov.sk.ca)

Desjardins said snowfall amounts won’t be quite as significant in La Ronge – maybe 15 to 20 cm. The northeast, including Melfort, could see some heavier accumulations of about 25 to 35 cm.

The heavy snow is expected to slowly taper off from the southwest to the northeast Wednesday afternoon.

Following this system, Desjardin said Environment Canada is expecting below seasonal temperatures to return to the province until the end of the month.

“Winter is not over yet. We’ve still got a ways to go and this will be a significant change in the temperature following this event.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com