City crews are getting ready to fight the flurries as the first significant snowfall of the year hits Saskatoon.

It's a very busy time for the public works department, said Saskatoon's public works manager Pat Hyde on Monday.

"We have to gear up for winter operations because each season we have to outfit the equipment for winter, summer and back again," said Hyde.

Hyde said some of the changeover has already occured over the past couple of weeks, but when snow comes this early in the season, there is a possibility the snow may not even stick around so that means they can't completely convert over to winter mode yet.

"We'll play it entirely by ear, it all depends on how the weather unfolds over the next few days as well as in the next week," said Hyde, adding that
road temperatures, snow and possible freezing rain will make the roads very slipperty.

"Drivers and people out there be aware, drive cautiously, drive slowly."