Environment Canada has issued a winter storm watch for Moose Jaw and much of southern Saskatchewan, and while the snowfall amounts won’t be as bad as the blizzard in early November, other conditions will more than make up for it.
A strong low pressure system will track into Saskatchewan throughout the day and bring strong west to northwest winds with gusts of 90 to 110 kilometres per hour in the late afternoon and through the evening. Winds will fall below 90 km/h on Thursday but conditions are expected to remain blustery throughout the day.
With temperatures expected to remain above freezing and a forecast high of plus-6 C, rain will begin in the morning and turn to snow mixed with rain in the late afternoon, with freezing rain also a possibility. Overnight, between five and 10 centimetres of snow is expected, tapering off Thursday morning with isolated flurries through Thursday night.
Blizzard conditions -- winds greater than 40 km/h, visibility of 400 metres or less and conditions remaining that way for four hours or more -- are likely, leading Environment Canada to recommend avoiding travel on highways due to heavy blowing snow and reduced visibility.
The system will move out of Saskatchewan on Friday.
Be sure to follow your regular weather source and pay attention to SaskAlert for more details as the storm develops. Visit the highway hotline www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline for the latest road conditions and for information on emergency preparedness, visit www.getprepared.gc.ca.
