RCMP issue travel warning as intense winds, blowing snow batter Edmonton region
Heavy winds and near white-out conditions expected
High winds and blowing snow are causing poor driving conditions in the Edmonton region Thursday night.
Alberta RCMP sent an advisory Thursday night warning of poor driving conditions throughout the majority of the province and advising motorists to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
The province also issued an advisory for hazardous driving conditions in many parts in the province, including many communities in the Edmonton region.
A wind warning was issued for the Edmonton region Thursday morning and a blowing snow advisory was issued in the afternoon.
A snow squall warning was also issued early Thursday but it has since ended.
After a relatively balmy week which saw some record highs, the region is expected to experience a sudden and fierce change in the weather.
Strong northwest winds are expected to intensify this afternoon and evening, reaching up to 90 km/h.
Travel may be hazardous due to the sudden change in the weather. Visibility on local roads and highways may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero and high winds , Environment Canada cautioned.
Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage, Environment Canada said.
Conditions are expected to improve overnight for areas across central Alberta as winds weaken and snow tapers off.
'Pretty potent'
In an interview Wednesday, Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Shelley said the storm would hit Thursday morning and come in bursts throughout the day.
"It could start off briefly as rain or rain snow mix, but would quickly transition into brief flurries in behind that cold front," he said
"And when we couple that with the potential for a quick transition to snowfall, it's likely going to cause a brief but low visibility due to some snow.
"The winds will ease off a bit in the afternoon, but then by the early evening hours, we'll get a second push, a bit more snowfall [and] a second burst of strong winds.
"It's going to be a pretty potent system."
After the intense storm, the region will settle in to a cold arctic air mass for the weekend, Shelley said. Cold air will move in after the squalls and stick around for a while.
Daytime temperatures in Edmonton throughout the weekend are expected to hover around the –18 C mark with overnight lows around –26 C.
Shelley said temperatures will thaw somewhat next week but February will likely have more bite than usual with colder than average temperatures.
With files from Scott Stevenson