EDMONTON – Canadian highways will surely be busy this weekend as families take advantage of low gas prices to drive home for the holidays.
“The jet stream has dipped south to Oregon, this allows for cold air to move down to the west coast,” says Nicola Crosbie, the Chief Meteorologist with Global Edmonton. “A vigorous low has developed in the Pacific off the coast of B.C. This system has a lot of upper level support, partly due to the trough in the jet stream.
“It’s packing quite a punch.”
In other words, Mother Nature is not making it easy for holiday travellers this weekend, and whether you head east or west, here is what you need to know:
Travelling From Edmonton to British Columbia
Road conditions look good this weekend from Edmonton to Calgary with clearing skies on Friday and sunny conditions expected throughout Saturday and Sunday.
If you continue west from Calgary towards Banff and then towards the Highway 1 to Golden, B.C., expect snowfall that will start Friday evening and continue through the weekend. Higher elevation mountain passes will pick up at least 5 cm of new snow each day through to Monday.
If you continue southwest towards the Crowsnest Pass, you will still encounter some new snow, but not nearly as much as in the north.
If you choose to travel from Edmonton through Jasper, and then south through Mount Robson Provincial Park on Highway 5, you will see some snow on Saturday, heavier snow (5-10 cm) Sunday and an additional 10 cm of snow by Tuesday.
As you continue west through the interior of B.C., the low bringing active weather continues east. You are urged to keep up-to-date on road systems.
“You’ll see strong winds and rain for the west coast, and heavy snow for higher elevations and the mountain passes of British Columbia,” added Crosbie.
Travelling from Edmonton to Saskatchewan
A freezing rain system on Friday evening, followed by cooling temperatures, will mean slick highway surfaces which will possibly be covered by a small layer of new snow. Keep that in mind as you head east down the Yellowhead towards Saskatchewan.
“The conditions at the surface have been below freezing for almost a week,” explains Crosbie.
“Warm rain falling onto a frozen surface is treacherous for drivers.”
New snow is also expected on Sunday through Tuesday from Lloydminster to North Battleford. Saskatoon is also going to be picking up about 7 cm of snow from Friday through to Tuesday. You are urged to drive for slick winter conditions.
As the active snow moves east, cooler temperatures will follow here in Alberta. The thermometer is expected to dip to minus double digits across much of the prairies by Christmas day.
For the latest road conditions across Alberta, check the Alberta 511 website or follow on Twitter.
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