Every time five centimetres of snow or more falls in Saskatoon, the city’s Snow Event Process activates, and crews get to work clearing roadways.

This weekend, between 20-25 cm of snow is expected to fall, meaning there is potential for the city to activate its Roadways Emergency Response Plan.

Goran Sarich, Saskatoon’s Director of Roadways, says the snow is slated to accumulate between Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5:00pm. The city’s first snowfall, which took place earlier this week, dropped 17 centimetres.

“During the snowfall, we will prioritize Circle Drive and our major streets such as 8th Street, 22nd Street, Idylwyld Drive and College Drive. We are planning on maintaining safety and mobility on those streets as much as we practically can,” he explains. City crews will spread salt and sand on slippery intersections, on/off ramps, and bridge decks as the snow falls. Crews will also clear City facility sidewalks, Meewasin Trail, park pathways and bridge/overpass walkways.

After the snow stops, which is expected to happen Sunday evening, crews will begin a phased approach to rid the city of snow as quickly as possible. Sarich explains that in the case that the Roadways Emergency Response Plan is activated, the City’s snow removal “plan will be expanded not just to focus on the priority streets, which is our normal practice after a typical snow event, but it will also include grading of local streets.”

Priority 1 streets will be targeted first. These include Circle Drive, Idylwyld Drive, 22nd Street and College Drive. These streets will be maintained within 12 hours after the snowstorm ends. Priority 2 streets like Clarence Avenue, McKercher Drive and Millar Avenue will be graded within 36 hours after a snowstorm ends. Next, Priority 3 streets like Louise Avenue, Howell Avenue and Main Street will be targeted within 72 hours after the snowstorm. Local and residential streets will come last.

Snow will be stored on medians, boulevards and in parking lanes as necessary.