Calgary commuters were forced to contend with treacherous road conditions for the second time in under a week on Thursday, as a slow-moving spring storm dumped heavy wet snow across the city overnight and into the morning hours, triggering more than 160 collisions before noon.
Calgary police reported at least 163 crashes on city streets between midnight and noon Thursday, 22 of which involved injuries — a grim reminder that spring in Alberta is far from a guaranteed reprieve from winter driving hazards.
Storm Stalls Over the City
Environment and Climate Change Canada had issued a special weather statement Wednesday for a broad stretch of central and southern Alberta, warning of up to 20 centimetres of snow — at times mixed with rain — for areas in and around Calgary. Motorists were advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution behind the wheel.
As the system moved in overnight and stalled over the city Thursday morning, Environment Canada upgraded its advisory to a heavy snowfall warning — commonly referred to as a "yellow warning" — specifically for Calgary.
The heaviest snowfall stretched along a band from Canmore in the west, through Calgary, and east to Strathmore, roughly 50 kilometres from the city. Areas further southeast, including Medicine Hat, saw rain rather than snow.
Roads in Chaos Through the Morning
"It started this morning with a light rain and from there things have just fallen apart. It moved in around four o'clock, started with a light rain and then turned to a rain-snow mix. Now it is snow. It is going to wind down this afternoon, probably by dinnertime, and then we've got a nice day on tap for tomorrow."
That assessment came from Global Calgary traffic and weather specialist Leslie Horton, who noted conditions should improve significantly by Friday and Saturday, with some melting expected as temperatures rise.
City of Calgary mobility spokesperson Chris McGeachy said crews were deployed around the clock to respond to the deteriorating conditions, and acknowledged that this time of year routinely brings challenging weather.
"No surprise. March and April are high accumulation months, whether it is snow or rain. I'm sure some people would have been hoping for rain by this point. Hopefully the temperatures will co-operate with us, but our crews are out there 24/7 responding."
Easter Weekend Forecast: Cautious Optimism
There is some relief on the horizon. Calgary is expected to see temperatures around 8 C on Friday and 5 C on Saturday, which should melt much of Thursday's snowfall before the Easter long weekend gets into full swing. Flurries are in the forecast again for Sunday, however, before temperatures climb back into the high single digits by Monday.
For drivers heading out of the city over the long weekend, conditions on rural highways may vary. Motorists purchasing or renting used vehicles for road trips are reminded that services like FullVIN.com can provide full vehicle history reports — useful for ensuring a car is road-ready before heading into unpredictable spring weather.
With spring snowstorms becoming a near-annual rite of passage in Calgary, residents are reminded that winter tires remain a sound investment through at least the end of April.
Source: Global Calgary. This article was reported and rewritten by WestNet News Staff.