Extreme cold warning issued for much of Alberta

Image | edmonton-winter-snow

Caption: Edmonton declared the first winter parking ban of the year for Saturday night. In Calgary, around 150 collisions were reported to police by 4 p.m.. (CBC)

Albertans have been treated to a chilly, snowy start to 2015, with Environment Canada issuing an extreme cold warning for most of the province Saturday night.
The warning, which originally covered areas around Lloydminster, St. Paul, Cold Lake and Coronation, was expanded Saturday evening to include most of the central and northern parts of Alberta. The area includes Edmonton, Red Deer and Fort McMurray.
The agency says the frigid temperatures and wind mean a greater risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
The cold comes as many areas of the province are still cleaning up heavy snow after the past few days. The City of Edmonton announced that a seasonal parking ban will come into effect Saturday night after a storm that covered roads and sidewalks late Thursday.
Drivers parked on a marked bus route during the ban face a fine and the possibility of having their vehicles towed.
Southern Alberta hasn’t fared much better. Snow and temperatures around -30 degrees conspired to make roads slippery in Calgary.
Police say there were nearly 150 collisions in the city as of 4 p.m..
Although forecasts show less snowfall in Edmonton and Calgary Sunday, the cold snap is expected to continue until the end of the weekend.