Sask. spring snowstorm persists, traveller reports dozens of semis backed-up on Highway 11

An Alaskan snowstorm system continues to slowly move through Saskatchewan, creating poor travelling conditions on highways.

On Thursday, light but steady snowfall continued to sprinkle most of central and southern Saskatchewan, including the largest cities of Regina and Saskatoon.

Regina has a forecast high of –2 C and low of –11 C with windchill. Meanwhile Saskatoon is forecast to get to a high of –3 C, but then drop to –13 C with windchill at the lowest.

Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment Canada and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), said ECCC doesn't measure snowfall, but that she took her own measurement in her Saskatoon backyard.

"I measured about 15 cm so far. That's including everything that has fallen, but of course a lot of the snow that was falling on Wednesday melted, so [it's] hard to sort of measure how much snow fell," said Lang.

On Thursday, ECCC's website says Saskatoon is expected to get about 6 cm of snow. It does not specify how much Regina will receive, but does say there will be periods of light snow in the city.

Wind gusts were not quite as bad as on Wednesday, but were still at about 50 km/h in Regina and about 30 km/h in Saskatoon.

"That'll make some reduced visibilities and blowing snow, and with the temperatures falling, you know, the roads have iced up quite a bit, so [there are] some really tricky driving conditions," Lang added.

ECCC snowfall warnings were in effect for La Ronge, Prince Albert National Park, Narrow Hills Provincial Park, Pelican Narrows, Cumberland House and Creighton.

Lang said the storm and snow should start to taper off in the night and be gone by Friday morning.

Three city workers shovel snow in downtown Saskatoon after the second straight day of snowfall in the city on April 18, 2024. (Liam O'Connor/CBC)

Highway backed-up

Saskatchewan's Highway Hotline showed winter conditions on all highways leading out of Regina and Saskatoon Thursday morning, and some were listed as "travel not recommended" for certain periods.

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The hotline also showed multiple incidents reported across the province.

Ashlyn George was one of the people braving the conditions Thursday morning. She was heading to Regina from Saskatoon for a speaking engagement, but said she witnessed a massive line of semis on Highway 11 around Blackstrap.

"I would say about 70 semis were pulled over on the side of the road. Most were in the shoulder lane, but at some point semis had kind of double-parked," said George.

"Conditions were terrible coming out of Saskatoon for probably the first 50 km or so," said George.

"There was so much blowing and sticking snow on the highway as well, you couldn't see any of the lines."

Lang recommended people check Highway Hotline before hitting the road for the next couple of days.