A powerful blast of winter weather turned Saskatchewan roads into danger zones on Friday, forcing highway closures and triggering a wave of crashes across central and southern parts of the province. Police are urging drivers to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary.
RCMP confirmed officers were responding to a multi-vehicle collision near the intersection of Highway 46 and Highway 1, southwest of Balgonie. The crash prompted the closure of Highway 46, with no clear timeline yet on when it will reopen. Several other highways around the Regina region were also closed as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
Further north, officers were dispatched to another collision on Highway 10, south of the Highway 364 junction near Edgeley. These incidents are part of a broader pattern reported throughout the day, with police receiving multiple calls about vehicles sliding into ditches, reduced visibility, and extremely slippery roads.
According to RCMP, the dangerous conditions are being driven by a mix of ice-covered pavement, snow-packed lanes, drifting and blowing snow, and strong winds. Together, these factors are making it difficult for drivers to see the road ahead and even harder to maintain control of their vehicles.
Authorities are strongly advising the public to postpone travel if possible. For those who must travel, drivers are encouraged to check current road and weather conditions before leaving. The province’s Highway Hotline provides real-time updates on plowing, sanding, and salting operations, as well as which routes are open or closed.
Police also issued an important reminder: do not call 911 or local RCMP detachments for road condition updates. Emergency lines must remain available for life-threatening situations and active crimes. Road condition information should be accessed through official online services instead.
Winter storms are a reality of life in Saskatchewan, but officials stress that caution and patience can save lives. Slowing down, delaying trips, and staying informed can make the difference between getting home safely and becoming another statistic in a growing list of storm-related collisions.
As the weather system continues to move through the province, residents are being urged to stay alert, plan ahead, and put safety first.
