With some snow from the first storm of the season still yet to be plowed, Saskatoon is expected to get hit with another 20-25 cm this weekend.

Goran Sarich, Saskatoon’s Director of Roadways, advises residents to stay inside and off the roads Saturday night and Sunday, and run all errands before Saturday at noon if possible. The snow is expected to continue until Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

If 25 cm of snow does hit the ground, Sarich says the City will most likely activate the Roadways Emergency Response Plan. He explains that in this case, 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.”

During the snowfall, crews will first focus on clearing Circle Drive, 8th Street, 22nd Street, Idylwyld Drive and College Drive.

Saskatoon Transit will maintain scheduled service over the weekend, but riders should prepare for delays of up to 20 minutes or more. Also, buses might make their stops in the middle of the street to avoid getting stuck in deeper snow.

Director of Emergency Managment Pamela Goulden-McLeod says this will be an inconvenient weekend for many, and she echos Sarich’s call to hunker down. Highway travel is also heavily discouraged, especially surrounding the Saskatoon area.

She adds that this will be a hard time for Saskatoon’s homeless population and reminds residents that an overnight warming centre will be open at the Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre on Wall Street. Doors will be open from 6:00p.m. and 9:00a.m. The men’s overnight shelter at St. Mary’s Parish has not yet opened up due to a boiler issue, but Goulden-McLeod expects operations to resume December 9th.