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Late winter blast coming Friday: Environment Canada

Mar 22, 2018 | 12:00 PM

A combination of snow and wind brewing to the west is expected to bring challenging conditions Friday. Weather forecasters have recommended the public change travel plans if they can, and keep an eye on the Highway Hotline.

The significant storm system, coming our way from British Columbia, will affect large parts of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba according to Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang.

“Light snow will start Friday morning and then increase during the morning,” Lang said. “The other issue is the strong easterly wind coming in, so we’ll see a lot of blowing snow on the highways.”

With the temperature hovering around zero, Lang said conditions will be especially tricky.

“Any time we have temperatures around zero it’s critical because a little bit either way can really make a difference on how the snow accumulates and how icy it gets,” she said.

Blowing snow at that temperature tends to turn into ice faster because people are driving on it as it’s freezing and melting, she said.

“It’s going to be a real sloppy mess, Friday,” Lang added.

The good news is the storm will likely be short-lived. Lang said she expects the snow will end late Friday, followed by a warmer weekend with temperatures reaching above freezing.

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow