City crews ready for snow response as 10-15 cm of snow forecast for Wednesday

Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts between 10 to 15 centimetres of snowfall for Saskatoon beginning Wednesday morning and tapering off late Wednesday evening. High winds reaching up to 70 km/h are also expected.

This combination of snow and strong winds is expected to significantly reduce visibility and create hazardous travel conditions. Limiting travel to only essential trips during and immediately after the storm is recommended to help motorists stay safe and keep streets clear for emergency vehicles and snow clearing equipment.

City crews will be on the streets throughout the day with plows and graders working to keep high-speed and arterial routes passable as snow accumulates. Meanwhile, sanding trucks will monitor and treat icy sections.

Even with treatments, some areas can be slippery in windy, snowy and very cold weather. If going out is essential, drivers should be aware of the potential for rapidly changing road conditions and adjust their driving accordingly.

Blowing snow may quickly cover roadways that have already been cleared, requiring crews to return to these areas to maintain safe mobility.

Once the snowfall ends, a snow event will be declared, and City and contractor crews will continue grading and plowing all priority streets. Snow maintenance equipment will remain active until priority routes are cleared.

With reduced visibility, residents are reminded to watch for blue and amber flashing lights and to give road maintenance equipment the space needed to operate safely.

During a snow event, residents can track progress through the Priority Street Snow Grading Map. More information, including the City’s level of service, can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow. Stay in the know by checking the latest Snow & Ice Report posted to saskatoon.ca/SnowReport.

Saskatoon Transit will monitor and adjust service as needed; however, service can be delayed or interrupted by collisions, blown-in streets and bus stops that are not accessible due to snowfall and drifts. Stay informed: check Saskatoon Transit service alerts for detours or temporary bus stop closures, and view real-time bus locations on third-party apps like Transit and Google Transit on desktop. Pin the routes you use often and receive service alert push notifications.

Visit saskatoon.ca/servicealerts for any other impacted City Services.