PHOTOS: April Prairie snowstorm delivers a wallop, road chaos ensues
Multiple strong low-pressure systems brought winter-like weather back to the eastern Prairies in a significant way this week.
What began with the first low Sunday, heavy snow and blustery winds powered their way through eastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba, continuing through Monday. This led to dangerous travel across both provinces as blowing snow led to poor visibilities and whiteout conditions.
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Then a second system centred by the Great Lakes brought another wave of the wintry blast to Saskatchewan and Manitoba Monday night, peristing well into Tuesday for both regions. The storm prompted snowfall and winter storm warnings, as well as special weather statements.
Photo: Saskatchewan RCMP.
The quickly deteriorating conditions led to several highway closures and travel advisories across southeastern Saskatchewan early Tuesday morning, including Highway 1, east of Regina. According to a RCMP news release, at least a dozen collisions were reported on the highway Monday night.
On Tuesday evening, Saskatchewan RCMP reported a jack-knifed transport truck blocking both eastbound lanes and a line of traffic several kilometers long on Highway 1 near Wolseley, Sask.
Poor road conditions were also reported across southern Manitoba Tuesday morning, prompting several school closures across rural areas.
In Saskatchewan, areas south of Regina were forecast to see 20-25 cm with these stubborn systems. Regina was anticipated to get 10-15 cm, while regions west of the city, extending to Prince Albert, were forecast to get 5-15 cm of snow.
Parts of southern Manitoba were in line to see 20-30 cm of snow. A good portion of the region, including Winnipeg and areas east of this city, were forecast to pick up 15-20 cm. No official snowfall amounts have been reported as of yet.
Conditions gradually improved through the overnight on Tuesday, as the low made its way out of the Prairies, with the snow and winds finally easing.
Below is a collection of visuals from the storm in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, one of the biggest snow storms of the year for the region.
Thumbnail courtesy of NWR Weather, taken in Regina, Sask.
