Sask. buried in snow from weekend storm, forces school closures
A snowstorm sent upwards from Montana swept through southern and central Saskatchewan over the weekend, closing some roads and shutting down some businesses and centres for the day in different cities.
That fallout continues into Monday.
Saskatoon activated its Roadways Emergency Response Plan Sunday after estimating it received more than 25 centimetres of snow. It also implemented its Extreme Cold Weather Emergency Plan, which opens up emergency overnight shelters and warm-up locations among other resources for people who need them.
The Saskatoon Roadways Emergency Response Plan timeline, set to begin at the end of snowfall with priority one being freeways and major arteries, priority two being double lanes and other important routes (like McKercher Drive and Saskatoon Transit routes). (City of Saskatoon)
During a City of Saskatoon news conference Sunday afternoon, Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said Saskatoon and communities near North Battleford were among the hardest hit as the storm moved northeast.
A winter storm warning remained in effect until Monday morning with forecasts of 25 to 40 centimetres of snow in some regions.
Saskatoon's roadways director Goran Saric discouraged road travel unless drivers' vehicles were equipped with four-wheel drive.
Saskatoon's Catholic and public school divisions have given their students Monday off. High school classes have been cancelled and elementary students were already out of school because of a professional development day for teachers.
Rotating teacher strikes are expected in some school divisions across Saskatchewan as part of the stalled contract negotiations between teachers and the province, but those do not include Saskatoon.
In Regina, the city declared its snow routes in effect, meaning no on-street parking on those marked routes for 24 hours beginning Monday at 6 a.m. CST.
There is no school in either public or Catholics school divisions in Regina on Monday because of rotating teacher strikes.
Airports face cancellations, delays
Both Regina and Saskatoon were showing a string of flight cancellations and delays at their airports on Sunday.
Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz said the weather has been a challenge.
"So far, we have seen about 10 departures cancel today but the weather is not over yet," he said in a statement Sunday afternoon.
Saskatoon International Airport departure flights as of early Sunday evening. (Saskatoon International Airport)
The Saskatoon International Airport said in an emailed statement that it had brought in additional crews and runway conditions were good both Saturday and Sunday.
"That said, weather conditions have continued to impact flights, primarily due to poor visibility and wind conditions … as of Sunday morning, the airport is aware of approximately 30 flights cancelled this weekend due to the snowstorm."
North Battleford shuts down transit Monday
Roads in and out of North Battleford were either closed, or travel not recommended, through Sunday afternoon, according to the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline.
By the evening, that had mostly cleared up.
However, it led to the potential closure of some facilities including the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre, Don Ross Community Centre and NationsWEST Field House, the city said in an emailed statement. It suggested calling facilities ahead to ensure they are operating.
Battlefords Transit also posted to social media that services would not be running on Monday.
