Saskatoon streets become skating rinks after freezing rain

Leaving the house was an adventure for people in Saskatoon on Thursday morning after rain encased streets and sidewalks in an icy glaze.

The Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes experienced the slick conditions first hand.

The team’s bus arrived at SaskTel Centre after midnight and players could be seen pushing their hockey bags down an icy ramp to keep from falling.

Apparently @SaskTelCtr doesn’t have heated ramps… 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/6XNZ907nkS

— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) February 10, 2022

The City of Saskatoon issued a warning to residents that streets packed with snow are very slippery and drivers and people using the sidewalks should use caution.

Police responded to several accidents overnight due to the icy roads, but conditions quickly improved during the morning commute.

“Priority streets that have been snow graded are wet with slippery spots,” said the city in a news release.

“City sanders were out all night and 16 units are actively applying salt and sand this morning, focusing on major streets, bridge decks and intersections.”

Friday could bring more slippery road conditions.

Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said a cold front moving into the province overnight will bring a shot of snow and plunging temperatures.

“Everything that we see today melting and all this rain on top of it, it’s going to freeze very quickly,” Lang said.

“By Friday morning, we’re expecting temperatures near -15 C so folks need to keep that in mind when they wake up it’s going to be another icy day.”

Lang said before the cold front moves in, central and southern Saskatchewan will see 70- to 90-kilometre-per-hour winds through the day Thursday.