Crews respond to first major snow event of season, brace for more

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Like most of Saskatchewan, Regina residents woke up to a blanket of snow Tuesday — and a promise of more to come.

Overnight and into Tuesday morning, Regina received about five centimetres of snow. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) projected at least double that number by day’s end for a total of 10 to 20 centimetres heading into Tuesday evening.

“Winter crews were on the streets and out addressing winter conditions the second snow started falling,” Chris Warren, the City of Regina’s director of roadways and transportation, told local media on Tuesday morning.

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Crews remain in “storm mode” as they focus on snow removal and ice control on priority roads with high-speed or high-volume traffic and emergency routes. That includes Ring Road, Albert Street, Broad Street, Lewvan Drive, Arcola Avenue, Rochdale Street, etc., said Warren, who noted that 50 plows, graders, sanders and other equipment are handling the workload.

“Storm mode continues until conditions improve, when a systematic plow (of other routes) will start once the snow stops falling,” he said.

The city expects a systematic plow of major roads to begin within 48 hours, with snow routes declared and 24-hour parking bans effective as of 6 a.m. Wednesday.

In addition to snow, the rain that fell Monday manifested icy conditions, making for dangerous roads.

Just before noon on Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline recommended against travelling the Regina bypass.

The Regina Police Service says it responded to 10 accidents between midnight and 1 p.m. Tuesday — one involving a pedestrian — although RPS couldn’t confirm how many were weather-related.

It’s a similar story throughout most of the province, with snowfall projected to continue over the days ahead and into the weekend.

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Saskatchewan RCMP said in a press release Tuesday morning that there were 14 accidents but no injuries reported between midnight and 8 a.m., including a three-vehicle crash near the community of Guernsey, and two collisions involving deer.

At least six semi trucks reportedly jackknifed in southern and central Saskatchewan, according to police, who also responded to a semi rollover on Highway 1 near Indian Head.

Later in the day, RCMP updated that between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. there were 44 reported collisions and incidents, although no injuries. Many of the incidents involved vehicles that ended up in the ditch.

Ongoing Saskatchewan Highway Hotline updates indicate that poor visibility, drifting and blowing snow are issues on many major routes from north to south.

ECCC projected much of the province would get at least 10 centimetres of snow and face windy conditions that could potentially gust up to 80 km/hr. Temperatures were hovering around –10 C on Tuesday, but with the windchill it felt closer to –20 C.

The Weather Network says a “potent Texas low” — the first of its kind this season — led to widespread winter storm warnings across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

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The areas heaviest hit by snow in Saskatchewan were in the east, including Yorkton, Wynyard and Moosomin.

The Texas low “is not a common storm track and one that will bring some significant snow and powerful winds, which could result in dangerous blizzard-like conditions,” according to The Weather Network.

— With files from Larissa Kurz and Dave Diebert 

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