Massive blizzard BC/Prairies

[conestogo_flood]

The Weather Network also stated this was the worst winter storm to hit Saskatchewan in decades.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/ ... -wrap.html

Winter storm batters the West

'This is Mother Nature reaping revenge on all of us who asked, "Where did the winter go?"'

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 | 8:15 PM ET
CBC News

A massive winter storm pummelled much of B.C. and the Prairies Wednesday, causing school closures, flight cancellations and havoc on the roads.

The blizzard started early Tuesday morning in British Columbia before sweeping east across northern and central Alberta and Saskatchewan, causing near-zero visibility for motorists.

The storm is being blamed for at least two deaths in Saskatchewan. A woman and a teenage boy died of exposure after leaving their stuck vehicle Tuesday night near a First Nation reserve north of Lloydminster.

CBC meteorologist Claire Martin said the system is moving east and expected to buffet Manitoba and northwestern Ontario with winds and snow, while driving temperatures in much of the Prairies below –30 C.

"It's nasty," Martin told CBC.ca on Wednesday evening. "This is Mother Nature reaping revenge on all of us who asked, 'Where did the winter go?'"

B.C. motorists stuck as temperatures drop to –41

Dozens of motorists were stranded in their cars in northeastern B.C. on a road near the Alaska Highway on Tuesday night as temperatures dipped to –41 C.

Search and rescue crews used a fleet of snowmobiles to reach 28 drivers on Braden Road between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John and brought them out to safety.

RCMP Const. Darren Forsythe said the crews reported that all 28 people were in good condition.

"Everyone they were coming across were warm and happy. They followed the proper safety precautions, stayed in their vehicles and things were running. The only complaint they came across was that some people were out of cigarettes by the time they got rescued."

He said a search helicopter has spotted other stranded vehicles across the Peace River region, and efforts are being made to get them out.

A Vancouver woman suffered a fractured skull, broken arms and a broken leg when she was battered by a falling tree in Stanley Park, which was blown over by winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour.

A large avalanche closed the Trans-Canada Highway between Revelstoke and Golden in eastern B.C. for some time earlier Wednesday. The highway has since been reopened.

The storm also forced delays and cancellations at Edmonton International Airport, while officials warned motorists in north and central Alberta to stay off the roads.

In Saskatoon, temperatures were below –19 C for close to 10 hours with wind speeds reaching 80 km/h.

"If we had to hand out an award for the worst weather today, it would go to Saskatoon," Martin said.

The storm was expected to hit northwestern Manitoba late Wednesday before continuing east.

[jasons2k]

Thanks for the news! Really shows the strength of the air mass.

[conestogo_flood]

Worst blizzard in years blasts Saskatchewan

'I've never seen a storm like this,' woman near North Battleford says as high winds and heavy snow wreak havoc

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 | 6:18 PM CT
CBC News
Blizzard conditions paralyzed Saskatoon and numerous other communities Wednesday as Saskatchewan's worst storm in years blasted its away eastward.

Highways around Saskatoon, North Battleford, Melfort and Wynyard were closed as high winds and snow hit hard throughout much of the central part of the province.

Two people died after their car got stuck in the storm near Onion Lake First Nation. The 17-year-old boy and 38-year-old woman tried to walk to safety and died overnight Tuesday.

Environment Canada meteorologist Bob Cormier said the province was being split in half by the weather system.

Areas above a line running from Lloydminster to Saskatoon to south of Hudson Bay were being slammed by as much as 20 centimetres of snow and blizzard conditions. Saskatoon was one of the worst affected areas.

Driving 'could be suicide,' says trucker

Truck driver Peter Spock was among those who had to put their plans on hold. Spock was planning to haul a load to Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday but decided to wait out the storm at a Husky gas station in Saskatoon.

Driving through the storm wasn't worth the risk, Spock said.

"It could be suicide. Me and the truck could be in the ditch and the load and everything," he said.

Brenda Hrabia, who works at a Super Stop near North Battleford, said even the truckers had pulled off the icy roads.

"The back is full of truckers. It is a total whiteout. The winds are really bad here," she said early in the day.

"I've never seen a storm like this in years. It's terrible."

Police respond only to emergencies

Saskatoon police were advising motorists to travel as little as possible. Police said that while the blizzard continued, they would be responding to emergency calls only.

They reported they were extremely busy. Cars were abandoned in snowdrifts and ditches around the city.

The fire department asked people in the city not to use cellphones unless necessary to allow emergency services to get their messages through.

Public schools cancelled classes and asked parents to pick up their children. Some post-secondary institutions were closed.

The Saskatoon airport closed and the city's bus department said it would shut down at 6 p.m. The Saskatchewan Transportation Co. said no buses were running out of either Saskatoon or Prince Albert.

Taxis were running and city tow trucks said they were operating, although not on highways.

Prince Albert also hit hard
The wicked weather also hit Prince Albert in full force.

Blizzard conditions forced at least one local airline to cancel all flights in and out of the city and Prince Albert's First Nations University campus shut down for the day.

People in the southern portion of the province weren't seeing as much snow, but were also experiencing strong winds, blowing snow and low visibility.

There was some good news for Saskatchewan residents, however.

About 360 striking snowplow operators agreed to return to work Tuesday as the blizzard headed east. The union said it was concerned about the ability of managers to keep up with the road clearing that would be necessary.

[MetSul Weather Center]

It was in fact massive. We produced a report on this blizzard:

http://www.metsul.com/secoes/visualiza. ... _texto=488