Saskatchewan braces for weekend of winter weather

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Just as people have largely dug out from the first major snowfall of the season, another wave of snow is coming this weekend. Here are a few things to know about the weather system set to hit most of the province …

1. According to The Weather Network, many areas in Saskatchewan — including Saskatoon — are forecast to get between 15 and 25 centimetres of snow from Saturday through to Sunday. Some of the hardest-hits regions might receive as much as 40 cm.

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A snowfall warning was issued Friday for large parts of Saskatchewan, initially from the Alberta-Saskatchewan border and ranging north to the Lloydminster area, south to the Maple Creek area and east toward Moose Jaw. The warning was expected to expand eastward as the snow drew closer.

“A developing low pressure system over Montana will spread an area of heavy snow across southern Saskatchewan on Saturday,” Environment and Climate Change Canada said in its warning.

2. Windchill on Saturday is forecast to hit around -20 C in Saskatoon and around -18 C in Regina. Kindersley may feel windchill around -22 C, while Prince Albert and Swift Current are forecast to drop to a windchill around -16 C.

3. Complicating things for drivers, especially on highways, will be the wind. The Weather Network says gusts of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour are expected.

“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in a snowfall warning. “Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.”

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4. The City of Saskatoon on Tuesday declared the first snow event of the season. At various points, ­25 graders, 11 sanders, seven plows and five sidewalk plows were tackling the snowfall.

If enough snow falls this weekend, and a snow event is declared, the city’s response policy will be followed again. Priority one areas include freeways and major arterials; priority two areas include arterials with double lanes and bus routes; and priority three areas are collector streets, business improvement district streets and school zones.

5. Saskatoon’s Emergency Management Organization (EMO), in partnership with community organizations, is seeking funding from city council to support warming centres and winter navigation this season.

The proposed plan is set to be presented to council on Wednesday. Among the collaborations noted in the report are an evening warming centre operated by The Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre located on Wall Street; an overnight warming location for women operated by the Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre located on Wall Street; an overnight warming location for men at St. Mary’s Parish on 20th Street operated by the Salvation Army; and overnight outreach services operated by Sawēyihtotān.

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The total funding requirement, to cover until March 21, 2025, is estimated at $1.2 million. The funding is to be used for all necessary staffing, operations and utilities to run the centres and outreach throughout the winter.

According to the city, “extensive efforts” have been undertaken to generate $1 million from provincial, Indigenous and federal governments, plus community foundation and private donations. An investment of $200,000 from the city’s reserve for capital expenditures is being recommended.

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