Heavy snow sweeps over northern Alberta
Right now in northern Alberta
Blizzard Warnings: Red Deer, Innisfail, Stettler
Snowfall Warnings: Edmonton and area, Westlock, Athabasca, Spruce Grove, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, Devon, Leduc, Camrose, Rocky Mountain House,
Winter Storm Warnings: Whitecourt, Edson,
Road conditions: Highway 16 was reopened near Sherwood Park, between Broadmoor Boulevard and Highway 21 after it was closed due to a collision involving 10 cars. Snow-covered and partially-covered around northern Alberta. (See more)
Flight delays: Delays and cancellations at EIA. (See more)
School/Bus cancellations reported: School bus cancellations in Peace Wapiti School Division, Red Deer College cancels classes for afternoon and evening.
Collisions: Edmonton police say that between 6 and 4 p.m. there were 81 collisions causing property damage, nine injury collisions and 18 hit and runs.
Freezing drizzle and poor visibility on highways slowed travellers Monday as blizzard and snowfall warnings hung over much of the province.
A snowfall warning remains in effect for Edmonton and the surrounding area, with forecasts calling for heavy snow and strong winds throughout the day.
Bob Dunford, maintenance director for the city of Edmonton, says snow removal crews have been put on double shifts and that plowing will begin when the snow starts to accumulate.
He says the city is also continuing with its residential blading, which has been making slow progress but should be done today.
“The snowpack broke up with the warmer temperatures last week, and then we had a little rain on Wednesday. Did a lot of damage so we were taking more snow [that is] much heavier than we normally would,” he said.
“So it slows the progress down.”
Alberta 511 is reporting snow-covered and partially-covered highways all over northern Alberta.
On Sunday, a 21-vehicle pile-up blocked traffic on Highway 16 for several hours near Mundare. A crash involving ten vehicles on Highway 16 near Sherwood Park on Monday sent a woman to hospital with serious injuries.
Central and southern Alberta saw the worst of the storm. Highway 2 southbound was closed between Didsbury and Carstairs. Highway 1 is also closed from Calgary to Brooks.