Calgary drivers adjust to winter conditions

After a mild October, winter finally hits Calgary. With 20 centimetres of snow expected by Wednesday night, Calgarians are quickly adapting to the elements. Bailey Nitti has more

By Bailey Nitti and Tate Laycraft and Alejandro Melgar

Posted Nov 2, 2022 8:11 pm.

Last Updated Nov 2, 2022 8:12 pm.

Calgary’s snowfall warning ended after it hit people with up to or more than 20 centimetres on Wednesday, and people have adapted to the elements.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says snow blowing in from the Rocky Mountains led to over 30 centimetres in some mountainous areas.

There are visibility issues due to gusty winds blowing snow on some roads, so installing winter tires is a safe bet to reduce accidents on the road.

“Saw a couple of close calls. One [person] slid through a traffic circle and into a tree, and on the way to the office, there were multiple cars in the ditch on Stoney,” one person told CityNews.

“I gave myself 45 minutes extra to get to work this morning. I’m glad I did because I made it just in time.”

Calgarians have had to adjust to the increased snow, with some workplaces closing early and plans being cancelled.

“We had playdates planned today but took one look out the window and realized shovelling was our date instead today,” said one person to CityNews.

“We collectively agreed to shut the office down at noon today and send everyone home early, so we get home safe,” another person said.

A spokesperson for the City of Calgary told CityNews that snow-clearing crews stick to a tight plan to get significant routes cleared within 36 hours of snowfall.

“We still focus on roads based on a priority system, so that means we will be focusing on Calgary’s highest volume roads first — those are your roads like Crowchild Trail and Glenmore Trail,” said Chris McGeachy with the city.

Temperatures must remain above the -12 to -10 C range so crews can use salt to de-ice roads. The difficulty arises when the temperature drops, making it unsafe to drive.

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Kyle Fougere, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says the abrupt transition from warm to cold can present some unique driving conditions.

“This system that came through, the precipitation initially fell on some warm ground and then froze. So what happens is sometimes you can get a bit of an ice layer on the surface, and when more snow falls, it can be quite slippery,” Fougere said.

He says if people are planning to hit the road for a long-weekend getaway, people should pack an emergency kit to be safe on the road.

For those traveling via plane, the Calgary Airport sees some delays and cancellations, but most flights are departing on time.