Saskatoon police urge caution as winter weather leads to 17 collisions

Steam rises above the South Saskatchewan River at the closed Traffic Bridge in Saskatoon on Feb. 26, 2015.

Saskatoon police are urging motorists to exercise caution following multiple crashes on Thursday.

In a news release sent Thursday afternoon, Saskatoon police said they responded to 17 collisions since 6 a.m. that morning.

Police said the special constables in communications unit had also received several other calls related to collisions where police attendance was not required.

Saskatoon police ask drivers to reduce speeds, allow for additional time to travel, and increase distance between vehicles.

Saskatoon received 10 centimetres of snow since Wednesday. The city was under an extreme cold warning Wednesday, with wind chills reaching minus 41 C.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) a cold snap continues to grip the city, with extremely low temperatures and wind chill prompting a risk of frostbite.

According to the city's website, Saskatoon remains under extreme cold temperatures, "during which de-icing materials are less effective and ice builds up on streets, especially bridge decks, overpasses, and high-traffic intersections."

The city says crews have been deployed for de-icing, plowing, and grading snow from priority areas. Twenty-nine graders, 18 sanders, four plows, and nine sidewalk plows are mobilized for this operation period.