Residents of southeast Saskatchewan have barely had to think about snow since it melted away for good in April this year, but it inevitably makes its return every year. Some years, of course, it comes back earlier than in others. 

As temperatures drop throughout the week and we see an abrupt turnaround from the 24-degree high we got on Saturday, Environment Canada predicts we could see snow before the weekend begins. There will also be some colder rain and maybe even sleet in the near future. 

"Certainly the warm spell is over for sure," said regional meteorologist Terri Lang. "A couple of weather systems that are going to be moving through over the next couple of days are certainly going to bring in some cooler air."

Indeed, yesterday's high of 14, which might've felt cold after Saturday, is the warmest we're likely to be in the region for some time. And with colder weather and more moisture in the air could well come the first snowfall of the season.

"We should have generally sunny skies for a few days," said Lang, "but we have another weather system coming through Friday into Saturday, and that has a possibility of bringing some rain and maybe even some wet snow to the southeast corner." 

If there is precipitation of any kind this week, there's a good chance it turns to snow. Every night for the rest of the week, the temperature is expected to be below zero at the low, with tonight's low supposed to come in around minus four. Tomorrow, Environment Canada predicts we will get down as low as minus seven. 

"We've had a nice fall so far," said Lang. "It's been quite mild and I think people are just wanting that to continue, especially with everything that's going on and knowing that being outside has been sort of a blessing through the pandemic times. Not being able to have those barbecues and be outside, it's going to be a big change, I think."

The longer-range forecast shows things getting even colder over the weekend and no return to double-digit highs in sight. Lang did offer some good news in that whatever snow does show up isn't likely to stay around for too long.

"It's hard to know right now with the path of this low-pressure system if it will even get into the southeast corner there," she said. "But with temperatures running on the plus-side, the ground is still quite warm. A lot of it (snow) will melt on contact, so we're not expecting any accumulations yet."