Snow blowers and shovels were a common sight Monday as cleanup efforts continued after a snowstorm that devastated much of Saskatchewan.
Many areas in southern Sask. 10 to 15 centimeters of snow fell, in other regions it was up to 20 centimeters.
The least amount of snow fell in southwestern Saskatchewan.
Jesse Wagar, meteorologist for Environment Climate Change Canada, says March is regularly a snowy month in Saskatchewan – adding that the snow reported for southern Saskatchewan is within normal limits.
However, snow totals in Saskatoon and around the Battlefords will be patchy.
“There won’t be record-breaking snowfall outside of the hardest-hit areas, but there likely will be near Saskatoon,” Wagar told CTV News.
Heavy snowfall caused problems on the province’s highways over the weekend.
For several hours, a large portion of the highway east of Regina was closed due to poor visibility.
David Horth, a spokesman for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, told CTV News that sometimes there’s nothing to do but wait for the storm to pass.
“We have a fleet of around 300 snow plows and are ready to use at any time. Our people are very good at what they do, but when the storm really hits, we can’t keep up,” he said.
Horth added that after a storm, the fleet aims to get the roads back in order within six to 12 hours.
The City of Regina also has units clearing streets and sidewalks. However, if a storm hits the city, public transit users in Regina can expect delays.
The city also advises drivers to stay on main roads.
“Plan your route when you need to leave. Stay away from open spaces and bypasses that are prone to drifting,” said Tyler Bien, the city’s director of street operations.
While the snowfall may be over, Environment Canada has warned that a cold snap will occur over the next few days, bringing freezing temperatures.
The weather service advises residents to dress appropriately for the weather and pack emergency supplies if they plan to hit the highway.
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