A major winter storm is set to blanket Prince Albert with up to 35 centimetres of snow, prompting warnings about hazardous travel, potential parking restrictions and disruptions to city services.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the northern Saskatchewan city beginning Tuesday afternoon and continuing through Wednesday night, forecasting significant accumulation that could hamper transportation and municipal operations.
“Total snowfall amounts of 25–35 cm are expected to accumulate during this period. Heavy snowfall and reduced visibility may create hazardous driving conditions. Residents are advised to avoid non-essential travel and to allow extra time for commutes,” the weather agency said in its advisory.
The warning comes as municipal crews prepare to deploy resources to maintain critical infrastructure, underscoring the operational and economic impact severe weather can have on mid-sized Prairie cities.
Emergency routes to be prioritized
The City of Prince Albert said its Snow Operations Team will focus first on designated emergency routes, including major arteries required for police, fire and ambulance access.
“The City of Prince Albert’s Snow Operations Team will begin clearing designated emergency routes as snowfall intensifies. Crews may need to repeatedly clear these priority streets throughout the duration of the storm to maintain safe access for emergency services,” the city said in a statement.
Residential street clearing will take lower priority until conditions stabilize.
“Reported residential issues will be addressed once emergency routes are manageable and weather conditions improve,” the city added.
Such prioritization is standard practice in Canadian municipalities, where maintaining emergency access and major commuter corridors takes precedence over residential convenience during significant snowfall events.
Parking ban possible as snowfall continues
City officials said snowfall totals will be monitored overnight, with a decision expected Wednesday morning on whether to implement parking restrictions designed to facilitate snow removal.
“Snowfall will be monitored overnight, and there is a strong possibility that a Snow Route Parking Ban may be declared at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Feb 18,” the city said.
Parking bans prevent vehicles from obstructing plows on designated routes and can accelerate clearing times, helping restore normal transportation flows sooner — a key concern for local businesses reliant on customer access and employee commutes.
Residents can subscribe to parking ban notifications through the city’s website.
Transit and road conditions remain uncertain
The storm is also expected to affect public transit and local road accessibility, raising the possibility of schedule delays or route changes.
“Stay informed about transit service changes by subscribing to Transit Email Updates. Be sure to check the Transit News and Notices box. Any schedule changes due to the snowstorm will be posted on the Transit News page,” the city said.
Officials warned that blowing snow could render some roads temporarily impassable, particularly in open areas exposed to Prairie winds.
“Blowing snow may make some roads impassable. Residents are reminded to report impassable roads and other snow-related concerns online through the City’s Report a Concern Portal,” the statement said.
Municipal governments often rely on public reporting tools during severe weather to help allocate limited resources more efficiently.
Economic and operational impacts
While winter storms are common in Saskatchewan, snowfall totals of this magnitude can disrupt economic activity, delay shipments and reduce customer traffic for local retailers and service providers.
Transportation slowdowns can also affect regional supply chains, particularly for businesses reliant on trucking between northern communities and larger urban centres.
City officials said updates will be provided through municipal channels, including its official Facebook page, as conditions evolve.
“Updates will be provided on the City of Prince Albert Facebook page as conditions change. Residents are encouraged to monitor forecasts and warnings through Environment Canada.”
Environment Canada continues to advise residents and businesses to plan for delays and exercise caution as the storm develops, highlighting the broader operational challenges extreme weather presents across Canada’s Prairie provinces during winter months.