Winter returned with a vengeance Wednesday in central Alberta, where the temperature went from above zero overnight to about -10 C by 9 a.m., turning rain to snow.
Blowing snow advisories were issued for Edmonton and surrounding area, plus east-central Alberta, one day after a swath of the province had freezing rain warnings.
The advisory was dropped for Edmonton shortly before noon, but remained in place in parts of southern Alberta.
Environment Canada said falling snow and northerly winds of 50 km/h, gusting to 70 km/h, caused poor visibility.
The strongest winds and heaviest snow are moving southwards from Edmonton, the alert issued at 8 a.m. said.
WATCH: Winter storm closes portion of QEII.
Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.
Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday, 16 collisions had been reported to Edmonton police.
At around 8:45 a.m., RCMP in central Alberta said officers were at a nine-car pileup in the southbound lanes of the QEII.
The multi-vehicle crash was south of the overpass near Lacombe, and traffic was being re-routed to Highway 12. Mounties said travel is not recommended in the area due to blowing snow and very icy roads.
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