Road conditions are being deemed hazardous enough that travel is strongly discouraged in the Battlefords, Meadow Lake and other areas. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Travel discouraged

Winter storm results in closed roads

Mar 29, 2021 | 5:37 PM

Several highways in Northwest Saskatchewan are currently closed.

Following ice and blowing snow brought on by a winter storm Monday, most roads in areas like the Battlefords have been flagged as closed on Highway Hotline due to zero visibility, icy slippery sections, swirling snow and drifting snow. Around 10 centimetres are expected in the region over the course of the day.

Battlefords RCMP Staff Sgt. Jason Teniuk said that locally it hasn’t yet gotten too icy and they haven’t been seeing any accidents, but that isn’t reason for drivers to let their guard down.

“Plan ahead, don’t rush, give extra breaking room,” he said. “You really got to do all those types of things to make sure you’re safe and everyone else is safe.”

“There’s going to be icy patches, even if [we] haven’t personally come across them yet.”

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The roads being marked as closed have started to extend in the central and eastern portions of the province. Rosthern RCMP are on scene at a jackknifed semi which blocked the southbound lanes on Highway #11 just north of Hague.

While the hotline reads that the highway connecting the two Battleford communities is closed, Teniuk said there’s no one blocking roads and people that live in the town can still get home provided they take extreme care during that trip.

“Slow down substantially, take your time and get home in one piece,” Teniuk said. “I know the guys have been over and back numerous times today.”

As of 4:00 p.m., Highway 4 North from North Battleford is been marked as open with winter conditions, while Highway 16 West and East and Highway 4 South are closed. Highway 4 South from Meadow Lake and north from Glaslyn is currently marked as closed.

Teniuk commended residents for their safe driving so far.

“I think a lot of people are just sitting this out and waiting for better days to come, which they will later in the week,” he said.

The forecast from Environment Canada is predicting a drop in temperature on Tuesday, before jumping up to a high of 12 Celsius in the Battlefords, Meadow Lake and other communities. Extreme winds gusts, which could near 100 kilometres per hour, are expected to calm by Tuesday evening.

You can keep track of changing road conditions here.

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cjnbnews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW