After enjoying relatively mild temperatures in recent weeks, most of Alberta is about to get an abrupt return of winter weather.
Environment Canada on Sunday issued special weather statements for much of central and southern regions of the province, with 10 to 30 centimetres expected to fall between Monday and Wednesday.
Calgary and Edmonton were included in upgraded snowfall and winter storm warnings released on Monday.
The agency says the snow will likely vary widely from place to place, with local amounts possibly reaching up to 30 cm.
Rural areas to the east of Edmonton could see as much as 40 cm of the white stuff.
Travel will likely be challenging and there may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in the cities, Environment Canada said.
Some areas of central Alberta also received upgraded winter storm warnings, as hazardous conditions are expected on Tuesday.
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According to Environment Canada, blowing snow is also expected on Tuesday over open areas in central and southern Alberta, including Highways 1, 2 and 16.
Strong north winds gusting up to 70 km/h will also accompany the heavy snow and cause poor visibility in blowing snow.
Visibility will likely be suddenly reduced to near zero at times.
The return of heavy snow comes after several southern Alberta communities set new daytime highs earlier this month, with Medicine Hat, Waterton, Crowsnest Pass and Bow Island among those that broke records.
It’s also a reversal for what some parts of Canada have seen in recent weeks, with higher temperatures in B.C. and Alberta while snowfall records were broken in Ontario and Quebec.
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