Dangerous winter driving conditions have already led to dozens of crashes across southern Saskatchewan on Tuesday, as freezing rain, snow and falling temperatures created rapidly changing road conditions.
Saskatchewan RCMP say they responded to 47 weather-related calls for service between midnight and 2 p.m. CST on Tuesday, including crashes and vehicles stuck in ditches. Most of those calls were in the southern part of the province.
Sgt. David Chamberlain, operations NCO with Regina’s combined traffic services unit, said this type of weather often catches drivers off guard early in the winter season.
“You may have a dryer section of the highway for a period of time, then you will quickly transition into a very icy section,” Chamberlain said. “People haven’t been adjusting their speeds to correspond with those road conditions.”
Saskatchewan RCMP Sgt. David Chamberlain is reminding drivers to slow down in slippery winter conditions and check the highway hotline before getting on the road. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)
Chamberlain said conditions are expected to worsen as temperatures drop, potentially causing a flash freeze that could refreeze moisture already on road surfaces. He reminded drivers to slow down, increase following distance and allow extra travel time.
“Taking those winter conditions into consideration while driving makes it safer for yourself and for everybody else,” Chamberlain said.
RCMP also reminded drivers to check the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline before travelling and avoiding unnecessary trips if conditions deteriorate.
Cold weather could make conditions worse: meteorologist
Bands of rain that moved across southern Saskatchewan Tuesday morning are expected to be followed by colder weather that could make road conditions worse as the day goes on.
“It’s those temperatures in behind that are going to drop quite significantly, that we’re anticipating will freeze any of the precipitation that has fallen on the ground,” Danielle Desjardins, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said in an interview.
There’s a flash freeze warning in effect for the southwest. Freezing rain warnings are also in effect for the corridor between Saskatoon and Regina, and to the southeast. Then, closer to the Manitoba border, there are snowfall warnings.
Winds are expected to pick up in the southwest, particularly closer to the U.S. border, Desjardins said.
Highways around Estevan were closed Tuesday morning due to icy conditions, and remained closed as of noon CST. Travel was also not recommended on many other roads south and southwest of Moose Jaw, as of noon.
Saskatoon residents woke up to snow falling Tuesday morning. Other parts of the province are seeing freezing rain. (Kendall Latimer/CBC)
Mail delivery affected
Canada Post said mail will not be delivered Tuesday in parts of Saskatchewan, due to the freezing rain.
Delivery is suspended in Estevan, Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Weyburn, which are under red delivery service alerts.
Regina, Saskatoon and southern Saskatchewan may also see delays, as they are under yellow delivery service alerts.
“A yellow service alert means we are going to do our best to deliver, but there may be delays,” a statement from Canada Post said. “Delivery will resume once conditions improve and it’s safe to do so. The safety of our employees is our No. 1 priority.”
The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline, as of 6 a.m. CST, said all highways outside of Estevan were closed, and travel was not recommended outside of Regina due to icy conditions. (Chris Edwards/CBC)
‘Winter’s finally here’
“We’ve had a lucky break so far, but winter’s finally here,” said Todd Massey, who had to pull over on his way to work at the Coronach power plant, about 160 kilometres southeast of Regina.
He said that when he left Assiniboia at 5 a.m., the Highway Hotline showed the road as clear and dry, but that wasn’t the case by the time he got to the turnoff to head south on Highway 36.
“The hill was such glare ice that even in four-wheel drive and neutral, you know, [you’re] sliding sideways down the hill,” he said in an interview. “You couldn’t get up the hill in either direction safely.”
He said he pulled over at the bottom and waited about an hour until a sanding truck went by and he decided it was safe to try to make it up the other side.
The latest road conditions are at the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline website.
Slow down for first responders, tow trucks: CAA
Lona Gervais, a senior communications specialist for CAA, advised drivers to check their weather apps frequently, because conditions can change.
“Remember to slow down on ice and snow. Don’t follow other vehicles too close,” she said.
She’s expecting to hear some calls for winches from drivers who have gone into the ditch, and reminded drivers to be careful around emergency vehicles.
“If you see a tow truck or a first responder, ambulance, police car, [or] a snow plow, it’s a really good idea to slow down to 60 km/h, if you can slow down, and move over. But if you can’t safely do that, especially on a single-lane highway, then just absolutely slow down even below 60,” Gervais said.
“We want to make sure that, you know, these first responders get home safely at the end of the day.”
