Towns, cities in path of spring storm prepare for 'historic' blizzard

Southeastern Saskatchewan is preparing to be walloped by a spring blizzard that climatologists say only happens a few times in a century and communities in its path are preparing for the worst.

Blizzard warnings are in place in communities such as Weyburn, Estevan, Carlyle and Moosomin.

Up to 50 centimetres of snow is expected to fall in that region between Tuesday night and Friday morning.

It is expected to be accompanied by northerly wind gusts between 70 and 90 kilometres per hour, producing zero visibility at times.

Larry Tomlinson, mayor of the Town of Moosomin, said the residents are preparing for the storm while the town gets spaces ready for stranded travellers. In past storms, people have become stranded on the highway.

"My wife went to the grocery store [Tuesday]morning and [it] was packed with people so I think people are preparing somewhat," he said.

"Hopefully every body stays put and doesn't go on the roads."

Part ofMoosomin's emergency plans includes the churches, which open their doors to people stuck in town without somewhere to stay.

Jonathon Shierman, lead pastor at the Moosmonin Baptist Church is used to workingthroughemergencies. Hewas an associate pastor at a church in Calgary during the 2013 flood.

"You never know what to expect in a day or two days from now. Usually the most important thing is human resourcing," Shiermansaid.

"People who are willing to step up with generators or bring food or cook foodand we've got that in spades."

The church is outfitted withfood, generators and somewhere to sleep.

Trena Kelly, centre manager for Co-Op Gas Station in Moosomin, said she won't be open around the clock but the company will do its best to accommodate people's needs.

Kelly, who has spent seven years at the station, said she doesn't remember a storm "quite this big" in a while and expects a busy store and parking lot.

"There weresemis parked right down the highway," she said of a past storm.

Weather warning

The National Weather Service in Bismarck, NDposted a video of the blizzard in the area, with blinding amounts of snow,foreshadowing conditions in Saskatchewan as the storm pushes north.

Natalie Hasell, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the storm will arrive in the province's southeast around midnightat the latestand then quickly progress overnight.

"If we look at some of the statisticssay, for Estevan in Saskatchewana 30-plus-centimetre storm after April 11 has only been observed twice since 1902. So every 59 years on average."

"So perhaps it is appropriate that we are calling this storm 'historic.'"

Hasell said people need to be prepared for scenarios where help doesn't arrive for three days.

The meteorologist said areas neighbouring the regions with weather warnings will likely seedifficult conditions.

Weathering storm

City of Estevan mayor, Roy Ludwig, said he received the notification from Environment Canada stating his city isin for the worst storm in decades.

"It was pretty scary reading it," he said. "We always hope, optimistically, that it will miss us."

City staff have their equipment ready, and he feels confident the workers can "weather a pretty serious storm."

Jennifer Wilkinson, director of engineering at the City of Weyburn, said workers are having to reinstall winter-ready gear to prepare for road maintenance as the city braces for the storm.

"That's the unpredictability of Saskatchewan, is that you might think you're in spring but here comes winter back," she said.

"Stay home, hunker down and enjoy the extra time for your family."

The South East Cornerstone Public School Division in Weyburn advised parents and staff that it would be cancelling classes and programs on Wednesday and Thursday, concerned about the weather.

Weyburn will have all related staff on alert to manage downed trees,blocked roads or anyother issues that come up, Wilkinson said.

The City of Regina isless likely to be swallowed by the storm in the same way as communities in the southeast, but a city official said it is prepared to enter storm response mode.

The Regina Pats, while not playing in Regina, had their game postponed in Winnipeg as Manitoba buckles in for the same spring blizzard.

The provincial government is urging residents in the southeast to be sure they have a 72-hour preparedness kit ready. The province says alerts about weather that hasthe potential to affect life and safety will be distributed through SaskAlert.

Saskatchewan RCMP are urging drivers to be prepared and to delay travelling in a storm warning area, if possible. If delay is not possible, police recommend stocking your vehicle with items like warm clothes, candles, matches, snacks, a snow shovel, traction mats, booster cables and a tow rope or chain.

If you become stranded, police say to stay in your vehicle, and when starting your car periodically to warm up, make sure snow or ice isn't clogging your tailpipe, as it could allowcarbon monoxide to leak into your cabin.