Snow, rain incoming as Calgary braces for multi-day winter blast
Posted Apr 3, 2024 3:51 pm.
Last Updated Apr 3, 2024 7:36 pm.
Just as Calgarians were getting ready to kick up their feet on a patio, the city is in for a reality check in the form of another winter blast.
A dramatic drop in temperature Wednesday will be followed by evening rain that is expected to turn to snow overnight and into Thursday morning.
Environment Canada says five to 10 centimetres of snow will fall intermittently over the next few days, while the heaviest of the white stuff will get pushed out to the foothills.
“Periods of snow will develop through the day on Thursday, continuing right through much of Friday into Saturday at this point in time,” says Environment Canada meterologist Brian Proctor.
A snowfall warning is in place for areas west of the city, including Bragg Creek and Kananaskis Country, where up to 20 centimetres of snowfall could make for tricky travel conditions.
“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow,” reads the warning. “Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.”
There were already reports of flurries west of Calgary as of early Wednesday evening.
Proctor says an El Nino is still bringing dramatic temperature fluctuations to the Calgary area. He’s calling for freezing temperatures overnight and daytime highs around 1 C for Thursday and Friday, with an overnight low of -4 C Thursday night and -3 C Friday night.
“And then we start to recover towards more typically expected values as we move through Sunday into Monday,” Proctor says. “Typically this time of year, our high should be 9 C, and our overnight lows -4 C.”
City crews prepping for tricky commute
The upcoming winter blast may have an impact on the Thursday morning commute and Chris McGeachy from the City of Calgary says crews are preparing for everything.
“What’s different about this snow event is we’re going to have temperatures above zero,” he says. “Our crews will be out applying anti-icing to trouble spots, but our focus will be plowing.”
McGeachy is reminding motorists to prepare for winter driving precautions despite it being April.
Proctor says the precipitation this week will help the drought conditions, but there is such a long standing concern of drought that this won’t put much of a dent in it.
With below average snowfall this winter, the threat of outdoor water restrictions on May 1 is still looming.
WATCH: Alberta facing extreme drought conditions
The City of Calgary says in part, “the recent snow we’ve received in the mountains is welcome and every bit helps, but the Calgary region remains in a drought. That’s why it’s important that we continue to conserve water and use it wisely at our homes and at our businesses.”
Temperatures are expected to rebound to double digits for early next week. Despite this, CityNews meteorologist Michael Kuss says there is still a chance for even more snow late next week and cold air can last well into the month of May.
For the latest on Calgary’s ever-changing weather and the resulting conditions, listen to CityNews660 for updates on traffic, weather, and news every 10 minutes together on the ones.
