Highway 41. (File photo/northeastNOW staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Storm's brewing

Strong winds, rain, and snow all part of special weather statement for the northeast

Jan 12, 2021 | 12:38 PM

A major two-day weather system is moving through the province.

The temperature will rise in the morning on Wednesday and then rain is expected to start in the Melfort area at around noon. Temperatures are expected to be above freezing when the rain begins, but if not, there will be a risk of freezing rain.

Meteorologist Terri Lang said the system is also bring strong winds and snow early in the evening and will continue into overnight.

“Upwards of about 10 cm of snow but the issue is the winds that come along with is,” Lang said. “We are looking for northwesterly winds to really come up to 40 to 50 km/h, gusting up to 60 to 70 km/h.”

Overnight, wind gusts could reach up to as high as 80 km/h.

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The snow will taper off but the strong winds are expected for the better part of the day on Thursday.

With the fresh snow, blowing snow will be a major concern for motorists on Thursday.

“Check the highway hotline before heading out and Thursday might just be one of those days where you don’t travel at all because it will be such a messy system,” Lang said.

The northeastern part of the grain belt will get the heaviest amount of snow including Nipawin, Hudson Bay, Pelican Narrows and up through La Ronge.

Residents should also ensure that any lose items outside the home are cleaned up and put away so they don’t blow away.

“Especially any Christmas decorations like those inflatable ones that can really take off,” Lang said.

Seasonal values are expected behind this weather system which will feel really cold with being climatized to the nice weather, according to Lang.

“People get into a sense of complacency with the weather so this will be a wake-up call and remind us that it is still winter-time out there,” Lang said.

A high of -10 on Friday will be followed by a high of -4 on Saturday which is still much warmer than normal for this time of year.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser