Update March 7, 6:00 P.M.: St. Paul Fire is now responding to two-vehicle MVC on Highway 28 near Range Road 95.
Many rural school buses across the St. Paul Education region have also been cancelled for March 8. Routes will be reassessed on Tuesday afternoon.
LAKELAND - Poor road conditions due to icy and windy conditions are being reported across the region.
The "best suggestion is to just stay off (the roads)," says St. Paul Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich, when asked about current conditions. "However, if you must travel, allow for extra travel time... Always let someone know where you will be going, along with an expected time of arrival."
Just before 5:30 p.m. Monday, Kotowich said the department had not yet been called out to any incidents, "but I worry when it begins to get cooler and dark."
In the St. Paul region, wind gusts of 75km/hour are being reported, and blowing snow is making for poor driving conditions. And while the thermometer says -5C, it feels more like -15C outside with the wind.
"Roads are in terribly poor condition right now throughout the County of St. Paul and the entire Lakeland," according to the St. Paul Fire Department.
According to the Weather Network, "Well below seasonal temperatures are expected mid- to late week for the Prairies as a cross-polar flow will deliver a couple rounds of Arctic air from Siberia. Temperatures will be 10-15+ degrees colder than seasonal."
Highway 16 in poor condition
Earlier this afternoon, Vegreville RCMP and emergency crews responded to a collision on Highway 16 near Range Road 175 at Mundare. The incident involved two semi trucks and as a result, both westbound lanes have been blocked.
"No injuries have been reported, however the fire department and emergency crews remain on scene," according to RCMP.
It is anticipated that both westbound lanes of Highway 16 will be affected as crews clean up the scene over the next few hours.
"The roads are reported to be very icy, as well as very low visibility due to high winds and blowing snow," say police, in an update sent out at 4:30 p.m.
Vegreville RCMP are advising not to travel in the area, and request motorists avoid the area affected by the collision.
In an initial report just before 1:30 p.m., Vegreville RCMP and emergency crews were responding to several collisions on Highway 16 near Range Road 143, just east of Vegreville.
While the scene has now been cleared, and Highway 16 east of Vegreville has re-opened to traffic in both directions, Vegreville RCMP are still not recommending travel in the area.
This morning and again at 3:30 p.m., Kitscoty RCMP released information advising that roadways are continuing to deteriorate with snow accumulating causing vehicles to become stuck in various locations of Highway 16 and Highway 897.
"Travel is not recommended until the weather passes and road maintenance crews are able to improve road conditions," according to RCMP in the Kitscoty region.
RCMP are cautioning motorists to avoid travel on Highway 16 from Vermillion to the Saskatchewan border and surrounding roadways.
