Southwest Saskatchewan endured a weather turn from above zero weather to freezing conditions to freezing temperatures where the windchill felt like minus 25 overnight.
Environment Canada had issued a rare flash freeze warning late Friday night, warning that an arctic air mass would turn from mild to freezing in the span of a few hours. Swift Current went from 0 celsius at midnight to -10 at 4 a.m., with the temperature dropping every hour to -16 at 11 a.m.
Swift Current streets were impacted by the sudden change in temperature, with roadways which had begun to thaw and had standing water turning into ice.
On Friday afternoon, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Southern Saskatchewan, advising than an arctic blast was on the way and that freezing temperatures would be felt over the next few days.
An Alberta clipper system is sweeping over the province, to be followed by a sharp Arctic cold front which will bring much colder air from the north. In addition, northerly winds will increase overnight and into Saturday morning, with gusts to 60 kilometers per hour. The higher winds will result in blowing snow with poor visibilities, along with cooler windchill values.
The special weather statement advised: "In addition, temperatures will be falling through the day into the minus teens or minus 20s by afternoon, with wind chill values in the minus 30s. Residents should be prepared for much colder weather this weekend along with locally poor travelling conditions due to blowing snow Saturday morning."
The public is advised to monitor future forecasts and warnings at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca as warnings may be required or extended.
