SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The snowfall warnings that were in effect for southeast Saskatchewan have been lifted, and now the process of cleanup has begun.
Environment Canada initially issued the warning Tuesday afternoon for the southeast, including Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle and other communities. It said snowfall with total amounts of 10-20 centimetres was expected for portions of southeast Saskatchewan on Wednesday, thanks to a Montana low-pressure system.
Areas closest to the American border were expected to see the highest amounts, with 24-hour total snowfall accumulations close to 20 centimetres. An exact figure for the snowfall was not immediately available from Environment Canada.
The snowfall warning for the Estevan and Weyburn areas was lifted late Wednesday afternoon, and the one for Carlyle followed Wednesday evening. Temperatures are expected to be well below normal now that the storm has cleared.
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure's Highway Hotline issued a travel not recommended advisory for highways in the Estevan area Wednesday night. Those warnings have also been lifted, but winter conditions still exist on the highways and others in the southeast Thursday morning. Other incidents were also reported on highways in the area.
A motor vehicle collision occurred on Highway 39 northwest of Macoun, closing a stretch of the national highway. The RCMP was at the scene and a local detour was established. The affected portion has now reopened.
The RCMP was also called to a school bus that tipped over on Highway 47 near Benson. The Estevan RCMP says no children were in the bus at the time and nobody was injured.
The detachment had 10 calls for service on Wednesday.
The Highway 39 overpass at the east edge of Estevan was briefly closed Wednesday because a semi was stuck.
The Estevan Police Service reported multiple minor fender-bender collisions on Wednesday, and a couple of vehicles slid off the road with no damage.
The City of Estevan revealed Wednesday afternoon through the Voyant Alert app that street clearing work will be occurring on Thursday, starting at 5 a.m. The initial areas will be 11th Avenue between Third Street and Fifth Street, 12th Avenue between Third Street and Sixth Street, Fourth Street between 14th Avenue and Souris Avenue South, and Fifth Street from 13th Avenue to Souris Avenue South.
"Please exercise caution around city equipment," the city said.
In an email to the Mercury, the City of Estevan said its crews have been attending to the roads since early Thursday morning, focusing on the downtown areas. The snowfall throughout Wednesday was more than the city had anticipated, but crews were prepared.
The public works' roads and drainage division will be maintaining the roadways, but not doing a full removal as the ground has yet to freeze, making the process of hauling snow to the dumpsites "incredibly difficult", the city said in an email.
"The weather looks favourable to assist in melting some of the snow build up, but crews will continue clearing snow where space allows. The sanding trucks will continue to make their way around the community, as the night time temperatures drop, creating slippery conditions," the email said.
More snow is in the forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening, but not as much as what occurred Wednesday.
