Calgary weather: A second round of winter weather moves into Alberta late Friday
Cleanup continues after Thursday’s intense snowfall which shut down some major highways and brought a rapid return to winter conditions for most of southern Alberta.
With a second system on the way starting Friday, there will be a narrow window to work within.
As expected, Thursday’s system hit hard and fast. Traction was significantly compromised on many road surfaces and sidewalks after a hard layer of ice formed in some areas, a situation further exacerbated by a thick layer of snow that fell overtop of the ice.
By 9:30 a.m. Thursday, 511 Alberta was still reporting many icy and snow-covered routes north, west and south of Calgary, with travel not recommended along the TransCanada highway west of Banff.
By 9:30 a.m. Thursday 511 Alberta was still reporting many icy and snow-covered routes north, west and south of Calgary, with travel not recommended along the TransCanada highway west of Banff.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) weather summary of Thursday’s weather event, a frontal snowsquall moved through the Canmore to Calgary corridor in the early afternoon Thursday, dumping between 5-10 centimetres of snow in under an hour, as well as dropping temperatures by as much as 20-degrees, also in under one hour.
A strong north wind associated with the front created blowing snow and limited visibility to under 200-metres in some spots.
Visibility deteriorated right before the afternoon commute Thursday as snow and blowing snow moved in from the northwest. Ahead of that, the temperature at the ECCC airport weather station dropped from 9 C at noon to -4 C by 1 p.m.
Calgary also felt the impacts of these colliding air masses. Visibility deteriorated right before the afternoon commute Thursday as snow and blowing snow moved in from the northwest. Ahead of that, the temperature at the ECCC airport weather station dropped from 9 C at noon to -4 C by 1 p.m.
Road crews have been working on both rural and urban streets since before the snow started. As of 9:10 a.m. Friday, highways along the Alberta-B.C. corridor were still quite snow-covered and visibility appeared limited.
Road crews have been working on both rural and urban streets since before the snow started. As of 9:10 a.m. Friday, highways along the Alberta-B.C. corridor were still quite snow-covered and visibility appeared limited.
The avalanche risk in the Rockies, which was already concerning before this weather event (due to a weak base layer in many locations) is now even worse. Over 40 centimetres of snow fell in some mountain regions adding even more weight to an already-dense top layer.
The avalanche risk in the Rockies, which was already concerning before this weather event (due to a weak base layer in many locations) is now even worse.
Unfortunately another system is expected to move in to the region late on Friday bringing more snow, blowing snow, and keeping temperatures well below seasonal.
In a special weather statement for the southeast corridor of the province, on Friday morning, ECCC notes another 10 to 20 centimetres of snow is possible for some areas, including around Medicine Hat, “Snowfall will begin late tonight and will intensify through Saturday. Total amounts of 10 to 20 cm are likely with some pockets of up to 30 cm possible.”
Calgary is expecting another eight to 15 centimetres before the end of the weekend, with the bulk of that snow expected Saturday.
For the latest weather warnings from ECCC click here. Updated road conditions from 511 Alberta can be found here. And click here for highway conditions from Drive BC.
Calgary is expecting another 8 to 15 centimetres before the end of the weekend, with the bulk of that snow expected Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.