Impact of climate change in Saskatoon

Saskatoon witnessed a huge dumping of snow over the weekend. According to daily data report, the precipitation on Nov 07 2020 was 7.4 mm and 5.5mm on Nov 08 2020. The snow on ground was 8 cm and 15 cm (cumulative) respectively. According to the City of Saskatoon press release, the winter storm warning was forecasting 35 cm of snow and 80 kM/hr winds. 

According to the SRC the last "noteworthy" blizzard in Saskatoon took place in 2007.  The problem we are facing as a city was the freezing rain event that took place a few days prior to the blizzard which makes it slippery underneath a blanket of snow. On top of all of that there is the general issue of COVID-19. 

In a manner of speaking the issues we are facing at this very moment, even though it may not be directly related to a changing climate, may possibly help us change the way we do things. For example people who generally drive to work and live on a street which is a priority 3 or less may have to either work from home, walk or use transit. 

This event may have potentially reduced the amount of GHG's that would have regularly been emitted. I did come across drivers who did not need to be on the road getting stuck, spinning their wheels hoping that that would solve the problem whilst emitting more GHG's by causing their engines to Rev above 3000 rpm. 

Trying to force a situation where property taxes are not increased over the next couple of years would place a severe strain on city resources/ revenue, especially on the snow budget. (Municipalities are generally not allowed to run deficits) 

I decided to go for a walk to get some groceries as it was too treacherous to drive and managed to take a couple of photographs. At this juncture Avenue W seems primed to be a candidate for a bike lane. 

Avenue W South Priority 2, Nov 10 2020 

17th Street West, Neighbourhood Street, Nov 10 2020

Over the next 10 years there is a much higher chance of severe weather impacting us more frequently. Is the answer to double down and buy more 4WD quad cab trucks, which take up alot of space and pollute more or move to a transit system which is AWD and is both battery powered and pantograph powered, i.e. an All Wheel Drive trolley bus which would have 5 min headways.