Parts of Alberta could see up to 25 centimetres of snow this weekend
Environment Canada warns travel will be challenging as a strong system brings heavy snow to northeastern Alberta.
A strong weather system is forecast to bring up to 25 centimetres of snow to parts of Alberta this weekend, prompting warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The system moving into northeastern Alberta has sparked snowfall warnings, with the heaviest amounts expected near Wood Buffalo National Park and Fort Chipewyan. Those areas could see 15 to 20 cm of snow by Saturday morning, with rain changing to snow on Friday. Further south, Fort McMurray, Fort McKay and Conklin are forecast to receive 10 to 15 cm of snow.
"Travel will likely be challenging. Roads and walkways will likely be difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow," the warnings stated. The agency advised people to take frequent breaks when clearing snow and to allow extra time for travel. Snow is expected to taper off Saturday evening in most areas.
A wind warning is also in place for portions of eastern and southeastern Alberta, including Lloydminster and Medicine Hat. Strong northwesterly winds gusting up to 90 km/h are expected to develop Friday morning and diminish in the afternoon. "Local utility outages are possible. Driving conditions will likely be difficult. High-sided vehicles will be pushed around by the wind," the warning added.
In Edmonton, the forecast shows rain mixed with snow on Friday, with temperatures remaining below average into next week. The average daytime high for this time of year in the capital is 8 C. Calgary faces a greater snow risk, with rain mixed with snow and a high of 6 C forecast for Friday. The city could see 5 mm of rain and 2 cm of snow over higher terrain, with a 60 per cent chance of flurries on Sunday. Environment Canada meteorologist Janelle Gergely previously noted that while an El Niño can favour milder conditions through fall and winter, specific weather systems can still bring significant cooldowns. The current forecast is driven by one such system, meaning Alberta can still experience winter weather fluctuations despite the broader pattern.
With files from Daily Hive