The City of Edmonton is implementing a Phase 1 parking ban Tuesday evening following an overnight snowfall.
Residents in the capital region and much of central and northern Alberta woke up to a blanket of fresh snow Tuesday morning.
Snowfall warnings remained in place for Edmonton Tuesday morning, as well as areas to the west to Rocky Mountain House, and to the Saskatchewan border to the east. The warning had been lifted for Edmonton by early Tuesday afternoon.
Anywhere from 10 to 20 centimetres of snow is expected, depending on the area.
Snowfall amounts in the capital region will be near 10 cm, while northeastern Alberta could see accumulations of 15 to 20 cm by Tuesday night, according to Environment Canada.
Global Edmonton weather specialist Mike Sobel said the snow in the city should taper off by the noon hour Tuesday, or shortly after.
In a news release Tuesday morning, the City of Edmonton said a citywide parking ban will come into effect at 7 p.m.
“There is significant snowfall in the forecast, so we want to be proactive,” said Andrew Grant, general supervisor of infrastructure field operations, parks and roads services. “By calling a Phase 1 parking ban we are keeping residents moving and our streets safe for winter travel.”
During a Phase 1 parking ban, the city clears major roads, core business areas and bus routes. While the parking ban is in place, drivers cannot park on arterial and collector roads until after they have been cleared.
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Drivers also cannot park on bus routes or any road with “Seasonal No Parking” signs and within the city’s 13 business improvement areas.
Vehicles parked on Phase 1 parking ban routes after 7 p.m. Tuesday “may be subject to enforcement,” the city said. Crews will work 24 hours a day until Phase 1 roads are cleared.
The city said a Phase 2 parking ban will follow this Phase 1 parking ban. Phase 1 is anticipated to last up to 48 hours, according to the city.
Drivers are reminded to give themselves extra time to get where they need to go and drive to the conditions. Many roads in Edmonton, particularly the side streets, were still covered in ice before the snow started to fall on Monday evening.
On Tuesday morning, the roads in Edmonton were covered in snow, making it difficult to see the lanes in some areas.
Between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m., Edmonton police said there were a total of 81 collisions reported, including seven hit-and-run crashes, four injury collisions and 70 property damage crashes.
Visibility may be reduced in some areas due to the falling snow.
The Edmonton Transit Service said its cold weather service is in effect, meaning express buses have been instructed to stop for users at all bus stops along their routes.
Extreme cold warnings
Extreme cold warnings were also in place for parts of northern Alberta Tuesday, including Fort Chipewyan, Wood Buffalo National Park, High Level, Rainbow Lake, Fort Vermilion, Mackenzie Highway, Peace River, Fairview, High Prairie and Manning.
Extremely cold wind chill values below -40 were forecast for the above areas on Tuesday morning.
The extremely cold wind chill values are expected again on Wednesday morning.
It’s expected to be a chilly week in Edmonton. Sobel’s weather forecast calls for a high of -15 C on Tuesday, followed by highs of -19 C Wednesday, -18 C Thursday and -20 C Friday. Overnight lows could dip to -27 C by Friday.
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