Here’s why you may want to hold off on swapping your winter tires, for now

After having spring conditions for several days, southern Sask. got hit with a lot of snow creating treacherous conditions for drivers. Donovan Maess reports.

Despite the calendar saying it is spring, mother nature reminded drivers winter may be sticking around a little while longer this week – blasting Saskatchewan with up to 25 centimetres (cm) of snow Thursday.

“We tend to get our biggest snowfalls in the spring and in the fall,” Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Terri Lang told CTV News. “There’s a tug of war between cold air to the north and warming air to the south. It’s that clash which creates bigger snowfalls. Warm air can hold a lot more moisture and the last couple of Aprils have been quite dry.”

Highway closures were in place for parts of the day.

Saskatchewan RCMP received 12 reports of collisions from 4 p.m. to Wednesday at 8 a.m., according to an update on Thursday afternoon.

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RCMP noted during that time, there were no calls of weather-related stranded vehicles or traffic hazards.

Regina Police Service (RPS) adds it responded to eight calls for service related to collisions. One of those collisions resulted in minor injuries but the driver did not require treatment by EMS.

“It is unclear how many of these were a direct result of the weather/road conditions but the weather did appear to play a factor in some of them,” RPS said in a media release.

As of 11:35 a.m. on Thursday, semis were blocking Highway 19 in both directions 15 kilometres North of Central Butte, due to a motor vehicle collision. According to the Highway Hotline, all lanes were closed and there was no estimated time of reopening.

As of 12 p.m. Thursday, Highway 11 to Lumsden and Bethune was closed. Also closed was Highway 20 to Craven and Highway 54 to Regina Beach due to zero visibility, ice, loose snow, heavy snow, and snow drifts.

According to the Highway Hotline, travel was not recommended on Highway 39 at the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 1, due to reduced visibility, ice, loose snow, and snow

Travel was also not recommended at the Regina bypass due to poor conditions.

“When the temperatures finally dropped to below freezing and then freezing rain comes, there’s snow on top of it, you get some wind blowing across; those wet roads, they freeze up and they turn into skating rink,” Lang said.

“Here we are again dealing with those winter driving conditions,” added Heather Hubic, media relations manager for SGI. “A lot of us maybe have moved on or started to think about spring. But it’s really important we get back into the mindset of, ‘What do we need to do when we’re navigating these roads in the winter.’”

Moving on from winter may have also included swapping snow tires for summer slicks.

Over the past two weeks, Regina has seen temperatures as high as 20 C.

On Thursday, lows plummeted to -10 C, more than a 20 C drop from Wednesday’s high.

Saskatchewan does not make winter tires mandatory for vehicles like some Canadian jurisdictions, but SGI highly recommends them.

“They’re not accessible to everyone,” Hubic explained. “But they are a good idea if it’s within your means. We do encourage people to get those winter tires on early and keep them on late and in situations like this, so you can make sure you have extra traction on your vehicle to get to your destination safely.”

“I wouldn’t take them off quite yet. I know my neighbors watch to see when I take my snow tires off,” Lang added with a chuckle.

Lang says this spring has been cooler than springs of the past couple years so precipitation in the form of snow may be more likely than rain for a little while longer.

“This month has been on the cool side,” she said. “Snow is always possible.”

SGI says regardless if you have snow tires, or not, to keep those safe winter driving skills sharp.

“Even though it is April, we still have to keep those winter driving habits in mind,” Hubic said. “That’s slowing down, increasing that following distance and just looking out for each other on the road.”

RCMP urges drivers to check Highway Hotline for current road closures and conditions in their area before venturing out and consider delaying travel if possible.

If travel is necessary, RCMP says to stay on roads that have recently received maintenance. As well, RCMP reminds residents to avoid calling 911 for updates on road conditions.

Saskatchewan residents can visit Highway Hotline for current road closures and conditions in their area and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for current weather watches and warnings.

As of 12 p.m., much of southern Saskatchewan was under a snowfall warning, including Regina and Moose Jaw, with heavy snow continuing to develop during the day.

ECCC says the snowfall will ease beginning Thursday night but advises drivers to prepare for quickly changing travel conditions.