Travel not recommended on several SK highways as storm moves in

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While Regina and several other places across Saskatchewan are dealing with a winter storm warning on Sunday afternoon, other areas are facing a blizzard warning as heavy snow, wind and freezing rain hits the province.

Environment Canada says a Colorado low is blowing through resulting in moderate to heavy snow which will spread in a northeastern line Sunday night and into Monday with between 30-50 centimeters of the white stuff falling in the hardest-hit areas which is believed to be around the Kindersley, Moose Jaw and Assiniboia areas.

Moderate to heavy snow will spread northeastwards through Saskatchewan Sunday night and continue on Monday across Manitoba. Snowfall totals as high as 30 to 50 cm are expected. Moderate northerly winds will develop and produce periods of reduced visibility in blowing snow overnight. Some regions will also see a mix of snow and freezing rain; consult local forecasts for more details on the location and timing.

Conditions will gradually improve from southwest to northeast later overnight through Monday.

In the meantime, the Highway Hotline is reporting travel not recommended in several areas with the Trans-Canada highway being closed between Gull Lake and the Alberta border on Sunday afternoon.

In an e-mail sent Sunday afternoon, the hotline said while crews are out, it simply is not possible to keep the highway clear during a storm or major snowfall and that roads will not return to normal winter driving conditions until the storm has passed so please check the Highway Hotline regularly and consider deferring travel.

The hotline said even though crews will be working, it’s not possible to keep highways clear during a storm or major snowfall.

Kindersley RCMP was one of many detachments asking for people to stay off the roads because of the conditions.

In Regina, it is not known how active of a day police have had in dealing with accidents, but they did ask people to stay home if there was no absolute need to go out.

While some other areas are expecting to see up to 50 centimeters of snow, it is believed Regina will see around 20 by the time the system moves out.

The forecast is calling for temperatures to be in the minus 6 to minus 10 range for a high this week with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark on the weekend.

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