The Alberta RCMP issued a warning against travelling on highways in all parts of the province on Wednesday afternoon because of whiteout conditions caused by falling snow and strong wind gusts, that in some areas were forecast to hit 130 km/hr.
The travel advisory, originally issued for several areas in southern Alberta, was expanded around 1 p.m. to the central and northern parts of the province.
The treacherous road conditions also caused a large number of crashes on the QEII highway that forced the RCMP to shut down the major roadway between Calgary and Red Deer.
By 5 p.m., the RCMP confirmed most of the vehicles had been cleared away and most of the highway reopened, with the exception of a big pileup on the QEII southbound between Airdrie and Calgary.
“We have about 80 to 100 vehicles involved in that one,” said RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney. There are numerous semis that have jackknifed. There are some collisions. So a lot of those vehicles are just backed up and they can’t proceed through the area,” Slaney added.
With so many collisions and reports of treacherous conditions in so many areas of the province, Slaney said the RCMP decided to send out a blanket travel warning for the entire province.
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“It’s not worth risking the lives of all the first responders and emergency services that have to go and help you if you get in a collision or get stuck,” said Slaney.
“Just stay home. It is not worth your life.”
The RCMP also warned that anyone who does need to venture out to “be prepared” because if something happens, or you become stranded, with highways in such treacherous condition, it will be a while before emergency crews get to you.
While there was no estimate available on when the rest of the QEII would reopen, Slaney said the most up to date information on highway conditions around the province is available online at 511Alberta.
Environment Canada issued blowing snow advisories for a large swath of southern Alberta on Wednesday, with wind gusts of up to 100 km/hr expected along the QEII highway just south of Calgary and up to 130 km/hr along Highway 3, in the Crowsnest Pass area.
The Edmonton area was under a heavy snowfall warning with up to 30 cm of snow expected by the time it tapers off Wednesday evening.
Areas further east, closer to the Saskatchewan border, were under a winter storm warning with freezing rain eventually turning into heavy snow and strong, gusting winds.
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