Wind warnings, heavy mountain snows continue in Alberta
Some winter storm and wind warnings remained in effect for parts of Alberta Wednesday evening as strong downsloping winds raced down the foothills, with gusts set to hit 100 km/h in some areas. Those winds were beginning to wane by the late afternoon, but snowfall in the mountains is likely to continue into Thursday morning. More on the winds, snow, and what to expect this weekend, below.
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THURSDAY AND BEYOND: SNOW FOR NORTHERN ALBERTA, ANOTHER STORM POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND
Wednesday's warm, dry winds helped spread a wildfire that prompted evacuations early Wednesday morning for Ranchland No. 66 in southern Alberta. While the evacuation order has since been lifted, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency advised residents to remain on standby.
Those winds were beginning to wind down from their peak late Wednesday, and will be weakening further by Thursday morning. Up in the mountain peaks, heavy snow is expected to continue through the night into Thursday morning, with winter storm warnings in effect for parts of Highway 93.
Temperatures will cool down somewhat from the relatively warm highs on Wednesday, but Thursday’s highs are still likely to come in above-seasonal across the southern section of the province.
Meanwhile, a separate system will traverse the northern Prairies, potentially laying down a blanket of 5-15 cm of snow in Fort McMurray through Thursday.
This system will push southeastward across the Prairies through Thursday, bringing 10-20 cm of snow to parts of northern Saskatchewan and the Manitoba Lakes.
A colder pattern will develop over the Prairies through this weekend. Another system will brush the region this weekend, potentially bringing accumulating snow to the southern Prairies.
Check back for the latest on hazardous weather conditions across Alberta.
