Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning for parts of Alberta on Wednesday, saying “an intense Pacific system will begin pushing snow into west central Alberta.”
The warnings, initially for the western edge of the province, were expanded east Thursday morning to include central Alberta and the City of Edmonton.
The weather agency warned snow, which could be heavy at times, was expected to continue falling on Thursday and Friday as the storm is expected to move east.
“By Saturday morning, 15 to 25 centimetres of snow is expected to have fallen with the heaviest amounts near the British Columbia border.”
On Thursday, Global Edmonton meteorologist Jesse Beyer said the storm, which he described as a “one-two punch,” should start dropping snow Friday morning.
“Not only could we pick up anywhere from 10 to 20 centimetres of snow across the Capital Region, that will be coupled with wind gusts over 50 kilometres per hour at times,” he said. “That will make travel on city roads and highways across central Alberta absolutely treacherous.”
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“This is a widespread system and will likely be a longer-lived event. This will be affecting communities from Grande Prairie to Brooks. Any travel plans should be done with extreme caution and with the most up-to-date forecast information.”
A City of Edmonton official said equipment and manpower is ready to deal with the anticipated snowfall and crews have applied anti-icing brine to some of the city’s major roads.
Andrew Grant, the city’s general supervisor for field operations, called on Edmonton drivers to give the city’s plows and operators room to work.
“If you see a group of plows, give them room,” he said. “Don’t pass them, they will eventually pull over and let citizens by. It creates an unsafe environment when drivers try to pass our plows.”
Grant said the city has 130 sanders and plow trucks, 20 graders and 30 sidewalk plows ready if needed once the snow begins to fall. Contracted graders may also be called into action.
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The city has also refilled sand at community leagues around Edmonton for citizens to use on their sidewalks and elsewhere.
Environment Canada said strong easterly winds were also expected that could generate blowing snow and reduce visibility on highways.
People planning to travel through areas expected to be impacted by the storm were warned by the weather agency to consider posting their travel plans if they can. Drivers were also encouraged to travel with an emergency kit that includes drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.
Environment Canada issues winter storm warnings when “multiple types of severe winter weather are expected to occur together.”
For a complete list of weather warnings, watches and advisories in Alberta, click here.
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