A snowfall warning issued Wednesday afternoon is forecasting 15 to 25 centimetres of accumulated snow in Calgary by Saturday morning, with up to 40 centimetres possible along parts of the foothills.
“A slow-moving upper low over southern British Columbia will bring a prolonged snowfall event to the foothills and southwestern Alberta,” Environment Canada said in its warning. “Heavy snow will begin tonight and persist through Thursday into Friday before gradually tapering off Saturday morning.”
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The City of Calgary said Tuesday it’s ready to deal with potential snow and ice.
“We’ve tested out our equipment,” roads manager Bill Biensch told Global News. “Our equipment is ready to roll and we have materials in place to deal with any snow that comes down…over the next few days.”
Global News weather specialist Paul Dunphy also expects steady snow beginning Thursday.
“Temperatures will be below freezing right through the next seven days,” he said.
Biensch said staff is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of the snow and ice control program. He said there are a few new pieces of equipment this year, including a large broom attached to a truck for use on light snowfall.
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He said this season the city is leasing 16 tandem and sander trucks to add to its fleet, in the hopes of reducing overall equipment costs.
As in past years, crews focus on priority 1 routes for the first 24 hours after snowfall, followed by priority 2 routes, then residential areas and sidewalk clearing.
During fall’s first snowfalls, drivers often “don’t adjust their speed or their following distance, so they drive like the road is dry,” according to Ron Wilson, a manager with the Alberta Motor Association.
“You have to drive slower, you have to give more space,” Wilson said.
“Be prepared, be patient, give yourself lots of time and do take the time to clean your lights and windows off so you can see and be seen by others.”
You can visit the city website at calgary.ca/snow for more details, including priority route information here.
With files from Global’s Tony Tighe and Joel Senick
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