Warnings issued for 10-20 cm of snow over central Alberta, Edmonton included
Snowfall warnings span much of Alberta on Thursday for a swath of 10-20 cm, including Edmonton
Snow will pick up across Alberta through Thursday, challenging some of the biggest snowfall totals of the season for places like Edmonton.
"There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the snowfall warning issued early Thursday. "Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions."
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Major snowfall events have been few and far between across Alberta this winter, with recent spring-like weather and above seasonal temperatures taking centre stage during late February and March. But remember, March can actually be one of the snowiest months of the season, so we'll see some areas try and make up for lost time on Thursday.
Beware of slick roads and potential travel delays as the snow picks up, with reduced visibility at times in areas of heavy snow. Between 10-20+ cm of snow is forecast to fall into early Friday.
Thursday through Friday: Warnings issued for heavy snow and difficult travel
Snow started in Alberta late overnight Wednesday, and will intensify through the afternoon and evening for central sections of the province, including Edmonton.
The swath of heaviest snow will align from northwest of Calgary through to Cold Lake -- putting Edmonton on the northern edge of the heaviest snow, and also making for a very tricky forecast.
The QE2 will see snow through the day on Thursday, from Red Deer to Edmonton, with difficult travel expected for the evening commute.
Between 10-15 cm of snow is possible for Edmonton, with around 5 cm for Red Deer, and closer to 3 cm for Calgary, which will fall through the latter half of the day.
The greatest snowfall amounts with this system will be northeast of Edmonton, and towards Cold Lake, with 15-20 cm forecast.
Snowfall warnings are in effect urging drivers to brace for the changing travel conditions where the heaviest snow falls.
"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow," ECCC warns.
The snow eases through Friday morning.
Thursday threatens one of the biggest snowfalls of the season for Edmonton
You'd have to go back to November for some of the snowiest days of the season so far, with Edmonton airport only reporting one other day with more than 10 cm of snow in January. Edmonton airport saw just over 80 per cent of normal snowfall for the season.
Calgary has seen even less snow, with just 26 cm reported from December to February. In November alone, 40 cm fell in Calgary!
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March is Calgary's snowiest month on average, though it'll be hard to beat out that impressive November total at this point. March is typically the second snowiest month of the season at the Edmonton airport, just behind the month of January.
Stay with The Weather Network the latest on conditions across Alberta.