Some nasty weather is expected to make its way through Saskatchewan over the next day or so, prompting Environment and Climate Change Canada to issue a winter storm watch for Weyburn and the surrounding areas.  

“It’s a low-pressure system coming from Alberta and it’s bringing with it a fair bit of snow in the north part of the low, and in the back part, behind the low-pressure system, there is a pretty strong pressure gradient that’s going to bring some pretty strong winds,” explained Kyle McAulay with Environment and Climate Change Canada. 

Those winds are expected to reach the southeast part of the province overnight and will see gusts upwards of 80 kilometres an hour out of the northwest. There could even be some parts of the region that see winds even reaching upwards of 90 kilometres an hour.  

The temperature is expected to actually rise throughout the day and evening, getting as warm as -1° by Tuesday morning. Then, things will quickly change, with the forecast calling for temperatures to drop down to -18° throughout the day.  

With the high winds will come some localized blowing snow, and the warm temperatures could also bring some precipitation, but not in a way many will want to see.  

There is a risk of freezing rain ahead of the system, in a band stretching from North Battleford all the way down to Estevan. Combined with the rapid drop in temperature after a warm-up overnight, Environment Canada is advising the highways could get quite slippery due to icy conditions.  

While there is a watch in effect now, McAulay isn’t ruling out the possibility of more weather statements to be issued as the system passes through the province. 

“Keep an eye on the forecast, keep checking it,” McAulay stated. “We will update it if any warnings are needed.” He added there could be blowing snow advisories or wind warnings issued, depending on how the system develops as it gets to southeast Saskatchewan. 

You can find the latest forecast on the Discover Weyburn weather page, and stay up to date with highway conditions with the Discover Weyburn road report.