Saskatoon digs out after winter storm
With less than a month until the official start of spring, Saskatoon residents are digging out after a heavy winter storm that swept across much of west-central Saskatchewan.
The city received around 17 centimetres in the last 24 hours, but high winds made the drifts difficult for drivers.
“We had wind gusts at 80 kilometres per hour at the airport,” said Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment Canada. “And when you combine falling snow and wind gusts to 80 kilometres per hour, that makes for whiteout conditions that also make for big drifts as well.”
Residents in communities on the outskirts of the city battled heavy snow accumulation on certain streets, leaving multiple vehicles stranded in the road.
School bus service was cancelled for the afternoon at Sylvia Fedoruk School, and City of Saskatoon garbage collection was delayed in some neighbourhoods due to the snow.
The city says it has been working through the night to clear major roadways and top-priority streets, including sidewalks near public buildings. Due to the increased drifts, they have mobilized additional resources including 30 graders, 12 plows and 10 sanders.
The province says highway travel is not recommended in areas including Saskatoon, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Meadow Lake and La Ronge due to icy or slippery sections, reduced visibility and snow drifts.
“We see some areas that are completely scoured clean and other areas where you can’t get a car through because there’s such a big drift,” said Lang. “So that’s what the winds do to the snow.”
The wind does something else to the snow too. Lang says it can affect the shape of the snowflakes, making it easier to pile up in drifts.
“Those dendrites that we're so used to, that snowflake pattern,” she said. “What happens when it blows, it wears off the edges of the snowflakes and they become more like balls. But when it's been blown like that, it gets harder packed because all the nice edges that keep everything in, the air in the snow packs is gone.”
Lang says most Saskatchewan residents are likely happy to see the snow, as it’s been an especially dry winter in the centre of the province.
“I think everyone’s sort of excited to see it,” she said. “We haven’t had any of it this winter, that’s sort of what’s interesting about it. It’s the lack of storms we’ve had this winter.”
Residents may be less excited about the bone-chilling temperatures that the storm has brought, including temperatures colder than minus 30 C with the windchill over the next few nights.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The root cause': Canada outlines national action plan to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Prosecution rests in Donald Trump’s hush money case. The defence now gets its turn to call witnesses
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
Red Lobster probes 'endless shrimp' losses after bankruptcy filing
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
'Next man up': Canucks coach, teammates bracing for Game 7 without Brock Boeser
Questions about how the team is going to handle the absence of star winger Brock Boeser from a do-or-die game seven dominated pre-game interviews with the Vancouver Canucks coach and players Monday morning.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.