A special weather statement has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada for much of Western and Central Saskatchewan, including Saskatoon, Prince Albert and the Battlefords.

A wintery mix of precipitation is forecast for Thursday and Friday across much of southern Saskatchewan. Environment Canada says expect hazardous winter travel conditions. Heavy, rapidly accumulating, snowfall is predicted to begin early Thursday morning in western Saskatchewan along the Yellowhead Highway area and will spread eastward towards the Manitoba border by Thursday evening. The heaviest snowfall is forecast through Saskatoon and continuing east towards Yorkton with 10-to-20 centimetres of snow in the forecast across the province before the snow eases Friday evening.

In addition to snowfall, strong easterly winds will also develop causing reduced visibilities and poor highway travel conditions. A band of freezing rain may also develop along the southern edge of the heavy snow from the Kindersley area and move eastward through Regina and into southeastern Saskatchewan by Thursday evening. There remains uncertainty in the duration and amount of freezing rain that will fall, but expect slippery and deteriorating travel conditions beginning Thursday through much of southern Saskatchewan.