Spring may be fast approaching, but Mother Nature was giving some Albertans another dose of wintry conditions on Friday.
Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the Edmonton region, along with areas north of Calgary and in west-central Alberta.
The weather agency said general snowfall amounts will be 10 to 15 cm, however, locally heavier amounts of 20 to 25 cm are possible by the time the snow ends Friday afternoon.
“A low pressure area currently over the eastern part of the province is creating a band of snow stretching from the mountains through the capital region,” Global Edmonton weather specialist Mike Sobel said.
The heavy snow is banded, so the range of snowfall amounts could vary significantly, Environment Canada said, adding snowfall accumulation rates have been on the order of two to five centimetres an hour in the heaviest areas.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Environment Canada lifted all snowfall warnings in Alberta.
Watch below: A Global News vehicle ‘cruise cam’ captures the snowy morning weather in Edmonton on Friday.
On Friday morning, southern areas closer to Calgary had already recorded close to 20 cm of snow. The heavy snow is expected to taper off by the afternoon.
Edmonton police said between 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., there were 190 collisions reported to police, including eight causing injury and 22 hit-and-runs.
The city suspended residential blading until Sunday to focus all resources or clearing main roads.
“We will resume on Sunday night at 11 p.m., and then we’ll just continue with our Monday to Friday schedule until it’s complete,” said Andrew Grant, the City of Edmonton’s general supervisor of infrastructure field operations.
Watch below: Global meteorologist Jesse Beyer’s weather forecast for Edmonton and surrounding areas from 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2019.
Grant suggested he was somewhat surprised by how much snow ended up falling but that city crews are up to the task when it comes to dealing with it.
“There was forecasted one to three centimetres and that did greatly increase… Then there was a snowfall warning put in effect,” he said. “But, you know, we do have the capacity to increase our staffing levels and get more equipment out if needed.
“We have all of our available staff and equipment out on the roads, trying to maintain safe movement throughout the city,” Grant added. “Later tonight we’re going to be doubling up all of our staff to ensure that all of our equipment is out trying to achieve bare pavement.
“[Crews will] be busy trying to get that snow off the roads. Just give them lots of room to work out there and give yourself lots of time to commute and stay safe.”
The weather agency advised that people in areas under a warning should keep an eye out for “adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions.”
Watch below: (From Oct. 3, 2018) The Alberta Motor Association provides tips on being prepared for winter-driving emergencies
For a complete list of weather warnings, watches and advisories in Alberta, click here.
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Watch below: While Friday’s snowfall created treacherous driving conditions in Edmonton, skiers and snowboarders were happy with the blast of winter weather.
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