Unusual weather affecting travel this long weekend

The Calgary Airport Authority has confirmed that some of the flight cancellations and delays at the Calgary International Airport on Friday were related to the thick fog that settled over the area.

A fog advisory was issued for central and southern Alberta, including the city of Calgary, at around 7:30 a.m. Friday morning.

Global Calgary Meteorologist Jordan Witzel said the fog was due to a lack of wind overnight and moist air moving across the Rockies as part of a warm front. Initially he anticipated the fog would lift, but instead it settled in even more in some areas. The fog advisory was still in place as of 5:45 p.m.

This is the second day in a row that Calgary has had a fog advisory issued, and according to Global Calgary weather expert Paul Dunphy, fog this time of year is somewhat unusual. “Fog is typically a spring or fall phenomena. It occurs, on average, about 10 days in autumn and 10 days in spring.”

For much of the day there was also a freezing rain warning from Grande Prairie to Cypress Hills. As of 5:20 p.m. that warning was no longer in place. Neither Calgary nor Edmonton were ever under the warning.

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In its warning, Environment Canada explained the danger in relation to how freezing rain affects the surfaces that it comes in contact with.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance.”

As of 5:20 p.m. 511 Alberta was reporting some highways in the area affected by the warning were icy.

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