Crews and winter road maintenance equipment ready for snow

Environment & Climate Change Canada is forecasting heavy snowfall for southern Saskatchewan, including in Saskatoon, beginning Saturday and continuing throughout the day on Sunday. 

Approximately 20 cm of snow is expected in Saskatoon between Saturday noon and Sunday night, and City crews and contractors are fully prepared to respond to the anticipated snowstorm. 

Road conditions can deteriorate when heavy snow accumulation combines with gusty winds. Because of the possible amounts that will bring low visibility and drifting, city streets will be difficult to get around on. To allow maintenance crews to clear priority streets for emergency vehicles, the City would advise residents to stay off the roads as much as possible Saturday evening and Sunday. If you have errands to run such as grocery shopping or picking up medication, please consider these activities Friday night or first thing Saturday morning. 

If you do need to go out, adjust your driving for the road conditions, leave extra room in case you need to stop suddenly and watch for blue and yellow flashing lights on road equipment. Please stay back at least 15 m from winter maintenance equipment.   

During the snowfall, City crews will plow Circle Drive, expressways and accesses to Fire Stations and Hospitals, to minimize accumulation and maintain mobility and safety for motorists. City and contractor graders will grade city priority streets and sanders will be applying de-icing material as required, beginning with Circle Drive and other high speed and high traffic streets, bridges and intersections.  

Find out what the priority streets are on the Priority Street Snow Grading map. The map is regularly updated to provide the status of snow grading operations. 

When a snow event (5+ cm accumulation of snow) is declared after the snow stops, Priority 1 streets with three or more lanes like Circle Drive, Idylwyld, 22nd street and College Drive will be plowed within 12 hours after the snowfall ends, while Priority 2 streets with double-lanes like Clarence Avenue, McKercher Drive and Millar Avenue, as well as Saskatoon Transit routes will be graded within 36 hours. 

Priority 3 streets including school zones, Business Improvement District streets that don’t meet Priority 2 requirements and collector streets, as well as streets that take you through your neighbourhood like Louise Avenue, Howell Avenue and Main Street, will be graded within 72 hours. 

Residential streets are not included in the City’s regular winter maintenance strategy but impacts on neighbourhoods will be assessed after priority streets are cleared.  

We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we navigate through these weather conditions.