Major snowfall blankets Calgary, southern Alberta

Calgary and much of southern Alberta was plunged back into the depths of winter Friday, as a storm system moved over the province and blanketed it with snow.

Environment Canada says Calgary is in the midst of a long period of snowfall with total amounts of 10 to 20 cm.

Road conditions and visibility may deteriorate suddenly, the weather agency says. Areas surrounding the city, including the mountain parks, are expected to be hit even harder by the storm.

Further south and near the mountains, more snow is expected along with high winds of 40 km/h with gusts of 60 km/h, meteorologist Alyssa Pederson said. 

"Travelling in southern Alberta tonight and tomorrow is not recommended due to blowing snow conditions," she said.

• Watch the video above to see what it looks like in Calgary.

Some far southwestern areas, mostly in or near the mountains, may see 40 centimetres of snow in total by Saturday evening, according to Environment Canada.

The winter storm developing in Alberta is a combination of two events, Pederson said. Very cold arctic air is being pushed up by high winds in the foothills and mountains to build snow, she said. Then near the mountains in Montana and Wyoming, more moisture is being added, increasing the snow in the southern Alberta region. 

The forecast is calling for January-like temperatures for much of the southern part of the province over the weekend.

"The air has come down from the Arctic so it's very cold, well below normal in much of Alberta today," Pederson said.

In Calgary, Environment Canada is forecasting a high of –19 C and a low of –23 C for Saturday. 

By Monday, it's expected to start warming up, with a high of  –3 C followed by highs of 5 C by mid-week. That may start to melt snow on roadways and sidewalks, Pederson said, but she warned that major snow melts will need higher temperatures.

Either snowfall or winter storm warnings also cover the following regions:

• Nordegg - Forestry Truck Road Highway 734.
• Airdrie - Cochrane - Olds - Sundre.
• Okotoks - High River - Claresholm.
• Brooks - Strathmore - Vulcan.
• Kananaskis - Canmore.
• Medicine Hat - Bow Island - Suffield.
• Crowsnest Pass - Pincher Creek - Waterton Lakes National Park.
• Cardston - Fort Macleod - Magrath.
• Lethbridge - Taber - Milk River.
• Cypress Hills Provincial Park - Foremost.