A severe winter storm descended on southern Saskatchewan, forcing the closure of several major highways into and out of Regina on Friday, January 16, 2025. The hazardous conditions, characterized by strong winds and blowing snow, created near-zero visibility and led to multiple vehicle incidents.
Dangerous Conditions Prompt Widespread Closures
The disruptive weather moved into the Regina region on Thursday evening, with wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometres per hour overnight. By 9:30 a.m. on Friday, the temperature was approximately -15°C, but the wind chill made it feel closer to -30°C, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
In an advisory, ECCC warned that "travel will likely be hazardous due to near-zero visibility." The federal agency forecasted that the powerful winds would gradually diminish throughout the day, dropping to around 20 km/h by midnight.
Multiple Highways Impacted, Travel Not Recommended
Early Friday morning, the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline map showed significant disruptions. The Regina Bypass was closed, along with numerous connecting routes from the west, south, and east of the city.
The list of confirmed closures included:
- Highway 1 from Belle Plaine to Albert Street.
- Highway 6 (which becomes Albert Street) from Corinne to Ring Road.
- Highway 1 from Balgonie to the Regina Bypass.
- Highway 46 (which becomes McDonald Street) from Balgonie to just past Prince of Wales Drive.
Authorities also issued travel-not-recommended advisories for Highway 33 and Highway 48 southeast of Regina, as well as for Highway 6 directly north of the city. The stretch of Highway 11 between the Regina Bypass and Lumsden was reported as snow-covered.
RCMP Responds to Collisions, Urges Caution
The dangerous road conditions resulted in several collisions. The Saskatchewan RCMP confirmed in a Friday morning news release that officers were at the scene of a "multiple vehicle pile-up" at Highway 1 and Highway 4 near Balgonie. They were also responding to a separate collision on Highway 10 near Edgeley.
"There are other reports of vehicles in the ditch and poor road conditions in the southern parts of the province," the RCMP statement noted.
The police force issued a strong reminder to the public, urging drivers to check weather and road conditions before any travel. "If poor weather or road conditions exist or are forecasted, consider delaying travel if possible," the release advised. For those who must travel, the RCMP recommended staying on roads that have received recent maintenance.
As the storm continued to affect the region, officials stressed that safety should be the top priority for all residents in and around Regina.
