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After a blast of freezing rain and brutal cold, much of Alberta is now bracing for another wintery storm that has forecasters cautioning of blizzard conditions.
Snowfall and winter storm warnings have been issued for a large stretch of communities from northwestern Alberta, across the Edmonton region and into central Alberta.
According to the warnings issued by Environment Canada early Tuesday morning, a heavy band of snow is expected to develop Wednesday morning.
Rapid accumulation is expected with total amounts of 10 to 20 centimetres expected to fall in some communities by Wednesday evening.
Drivers are advised to prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.
According to Environment Canada, very poor visibility in blowing snow is likely as heavy snow combines with strong gusty winds Wednesday morning.
Blizzard conditions are most likely to develop in southeastern areas, including Provost, Hanna, and Oyen, where forecasters expect the strongest winds and heaviest snowfall will develop.
Alberta clipper on track
Kyle Brittain, an Alberta-based weather specialist, said a clash between Arctic and Pacific air is to blame for creating powerful winter storms like the one about to hit Alberta.
Brittain said the storm is typical of Alberta clippers, fast-moving low-pressure systems that originate near the Rockies and track east-southeastward, bringing strong winds and colder temperatures.
“That strong zone of temperature contrast really fuels these storm systems. And we’re seeing more of the same this week.
“We’ve got a storm moving inland. And as it does, we start to see that rising air over central and northern areas of Alberta.”
Plummeting temperatures, blowing snow
The snowstorm comes after a band of freezing rain prompted warnings for drivers across the province, following a brief reprieve from the extreme cold.
Environment Canada expects temperatures to drop rapidly over the coming day as the storm system develops.
In Edmonton, the temperature is expected to fall to –17 C by Wednesday, with blowing winds that will make it feel more like minus 27.
The snow is expected to taper off from northwest to southeast Alberta on Wednesday afternoon, with heavy snow ending in the Edmonton area that evening, Environment Canada said.
Winds will begin to ease Wednesday afternoon, first across north-central Alberta. Blowing snow conditions will improve from northwest to southeast as the winds weaken.
Heavy snow will continue after winds ease, but will taper off through the afternoon and evening from north to south, Environment Canada said.
Brittain said the storm will make Wednesday a treacherous day for travel.
Areas west of Edmonton can expect heavy snow, while areas to the east will experience strong winds with gusts up to 70 km an hour, Brittain said.
“As you get east of Edmonton, out into those open Prairie fields, there’s more wind effects,” he said. “But treacherous travel conditions are expected, whether there’s wind or not.”
Storm season
Brittain said current, “very active” weather pattern bringing stormy conditions to western Canada is expected to persist for the foreseeable future, aided by the ongoing surge in storm systems moving in from the Pacific coast.
“We’re going to see temperatures cooling and bringing us some colder temperatures in the coming days to weeks,” he said. “If anything, we might actually see that Arctic air kind of sliding a little bit further to the south.
“We’re seeing wave after wave of these storm systems bringing high winds and snowy conditions.”
