Winter storm warning in effect for southern Alberta

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on February 21, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

The morning commute could be treacherous today thanks to weather which has prompted a winter storm warning.

The warning was issued Monday by Environment and Climate Change Canada for southern Alberta.

Heavy snowfall was expected to start Monday night along the British Columbia border and spread overnight east toward the Cypress Hills.

By tonight, a total of 20 to 40 centimetres of snow is likely, says the warning, with the highest accumulations occurring near Waterton Lakes National Park.

The snow began falling late Sunday night in Lethbridge, causing slippery conditions early Monday for the few making the morning commute on the Family Day holiday.

The warning says “in the plains east of Lethbridge, this heavy snowfall event will also be accompanied by strong gusty winds which will reduce visibility for long periods and cause the snow to pile into drifts.”

The storm is expected to gradually come to an end by tonight. In the meantime, rapidly accumulating amounts of snow will make travel difficult with the possibility of visibility being suddenly reduced.

After the snowfall eases off, southern Albertans will still have to deal with another element of winter – frigid temperatures.

A high of only -14 is expected today with the low dropping to -24. If residents have put away their block heater cords already, they did so prematurely because temperatures will be even colder through Friday. Wednesday’s high is expected to only reach -21 while the low will be a bone-chilling -26. Thursday’s high may only be -22 with the mercury dipping to -33 at night. A chance of snow is expected both days.

Sunny skies should return Friday with somewhat more moderate temperatures including a high of -15 and low of -17.

By Sunday, the mercury could reach a balmy 3.

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