Blowing snow and icy roads are creating dangerous driving conditions along the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway, prompting a warning from the Didsbury Fire Department.
Emergency responders are urging motorists to slow down and use extra caution as they deal with multiple collisions.
"With blowing snow and icy road conditions, please take extra caution if you have to travel today. Emergency personnel are dealing with collisions on QEII. Give us room to work, and please slow down," the Didsbury Fire Department stated on social media.
Road conditions between Calgary city limits and Airdrie are reported to be mostly bare and dry, but the shoulders remain icy and snow-covered. Blowing snow and icy sections continue to create additional risks.
The warning from Didsbury Fire comes 10 days after a major chain-reaction collision on the QEII near Airdrie. On February 1, winter conditions led to a crash involving 18 to 50 vehicles over a two-kilometre stretch of the highway. Emergency crews, including the Airdrie Fire Department, RCMP, and EMS, responded to the scene, performing multiple extractions and triaging injured drivers and passengers.
With unpredictable road conditions, officials continue to urge caution. Motorists are advised to slow down, drive according to conditions, and be prepared for emergencies.
Periods of snow are expected to end this afternoon, but a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 percent chance of flurries will continue. Winds will shift north at 20 kilometres per hour, gusting to 40, before calming later in the day. The high will be minus 14, with wind chill making it feel like minus 25 in the morning and minus 20 in the afternoon.
Tonight will be partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of flurries, dropping to minus 30, with wind chill as low as minus 36 and a high risk of frostbite.
On Wednesday, February 12, temperatures will remain frigid. The day will start with a mix of sun and cloud, becoming cloudy by late afternoon with a 60 percent chance of flurries. The high will be minus 7, but wind chill will make it feel like minus 35 in the morning and minus 10 in the afternoon, again with a risk of frostbite.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.