Late summer snow blankets the West (may want to look away)

Thursday, September 13, 2018, 8:16 AM - The calendar still says summer, but it's looking more like December in parts of Alberta and B.C. this week with a heavy helping of snow prompting warnings for some northern areas. "Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions," warns Environment Canada.

And after 10+ cm has already piled up, there's potential for more snow this weekend as two more systems track across Alberta.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A cold front pushing south out of the Territories collided with moisture streaming over the Rockies from the Pacific, which caused rain to quickly turn to snow Tuesday night into Wednesday. That wet snow will be sticking around, particularly into the higher terrain from Alberta's Grande Prairie, Grande Cache, and down through Jasper as temperatures remain well below seasonal through the next few days.

(READ MORE: Landspout tornado AND snow hit Alberta)

Meanwhile, a summer filled with extreme heat and dangerous wildfires turned right to winter for some parts of British Columbia this week, as a plume of Pacific moisture surged into the Interior, just in time to meet up with strong high pressure and cold Arctic air.

(READ MORE: Accumulating snow hits B.C.)

Here's a look at the recent snowfall in photos.

Fort St. John, BC | September 12, 2018 | Credit: Sherri Robertson

VIDEO: SUMMER IN ALBERTA

Fort St. John, BC | September 12, 2018 | Credit: Paula MacGregor

Slave Lake, Alta | September 12, 2018 | Credit: Chris Taylor

Fort St. John, BC | September 12, 2018 | Credit: Julie Mulholland

Grand Prairie, Alta | September 12, 2018 | Credit: Tylor Regan

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