Saskatchewan blizzard of 2007

{{Short description|Weather event in Canada}}

{{Infobox storm

| name = Saskatchewan Blizzard of 2007

| image = Saskatoon Blizzard 2007.jpg

| caption = Blizzard in Saskatoon on January 10, 2007

| type = Blizzard

| formed = January 9, 2007

| dissipated = January 11, 2007

| lowest pressure =

| lowest temperature =

| highest winds = 90 km/h

| maximum snow = {{convert|55|cm|in|abbr=on}}

| damages = $1 million CAD

| casualties = 2 fatalities

| areas affected = British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan

}}

The Saskatchewan Blizzard of 2007 was a winter storm that struck northeastern British Columbia, central Alberta and central Saskatchewan on Wednesday, January 10, 2007. The storm hit the city of Saskatoon severely and is considered to be one of the worst storms in Saskatchewan's history. It brought motor vehicle traffic to a standstill, stranded people and shut down many public services. There were two fatalities from the storm.

Blizzard conditions shut down airports in Prince Albert and Saskatoon.{{cite web

|url = https://www.ctvnews.ca/two-found-dead-in-saskatchewan-after-blizzard-1.223344

|title = Two found dead in Saskatchewan after blizzard

|publisher = CTV News

|date = January 10, 2007

|accessdate = 2010-11-17}} Road conditions were poor during the storm, and highways around Saskatoon, North Battleford, Melfort and Wynyard were closed.{{cite web

|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/worst-blizzard-in-years-blasts-saskatchewan-1.690714

|title = Worst blizzard in years blasts Saskatchewan

|publisher = CBC News

|date = January 10, 2007

|accessdate = 2010-11-17}} Unionized highway snowplow operators, who had been on strike at the time, returned to work in the interest of public safety. City streets in Saskatoon were also clogged with snow, slowing traffic. Some roads in the city's outer periphery were impassable due to high drifts.{{cite news

|title = Blizzard leaves city in a rut

|last = Scissons

|first = Hannah

|work = The StarPhoenix

|publisher = Postmedia Network

|date = January 26, 2007

}} 14 major intersections were closed or deemed impassable.{{cite web

|url = http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=1c4514e7-f28f-4411-806b-92e6eb45d337

|title = Blizzard blasts Saskatoon

|last = Bernhardt

|first = Darren

|work = Leader-Post

|publisher = CanWest

|date = January 11, 2007

|accessdate = 2010-11-17

|archiveurl=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/regina-leader-post/20070111/281496451805128

|archivedate=2022-01-31}}

All branches of Saskatoon's public library closed in the afternoon as did city leisure facilities, indoor skating rinks and public schools. Several businesses allowed their employees to go home early, while the University of Saskatchewan shut down along with SIAST Kelsey campus and government agencies. Hotels were filled with stranded travellers and city residents who could not drive home because of the inclement conditions. Some people resorted to taking refuge overnight in businesses such as Costco.{{cite news

|url = http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=047b7a53-ca34-4607-bf0b-d0fffb956925&sponsor=

|title = Stranded people find refuge in some strange locations

|work = The StarPhoenix

|publisher = Canwest

|date = January 11, 2007

|accessdate = 2011-10-19}}

Emergency services spent the day responding to accidents, rescuing stranded motorists from stuck vehicles, and closing roads. SaskTel's cellular telephone network was overloaded with calls, prompting the Saskatoon fire department to urge the public to refrain from using mobile phones in all but emergency situations.{{cite news

|url = http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=4218c859-fb84-464d-bdf4-c00e8dfaae7b&k=4857

|title = Blizzard batters region

|work = The StarPhoenix

|publisher = CanWest

|date = January 11, 2007

|accessdate = 2011-06-02}}