Love may be in the air, but so is blowing snow, making for a not-so-sweet Valentine’s Day commute. Slippery sections, ice-covered shoulders, and reduced visibility affect major routes around Calgary, giving drivers a not-so-sweet surprise this morning.
The QEII, southbound, is mostly bare and dry, but icy shoulders and drifting snow could put a chill on travel plans. Visibility remains good, but caution is advised. Meanwhile, north of Airdrie, towards Carstairs roads, are also bare and dry, though blowing snow and icy shoulders are creating tougher conditions. Visibility is rated as fair.
In Calgary, major routes like Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail look even frostier. Snow-covered sections, icy patches, and packed snow and ice make for a slippery situation, with smoke in the area further clouding visibility.
If you were hoping for a warm embrace from Mother Nature, think again. Light snow will taper off by late this morning, but a 30 per cent chance of flurries will linger throughout the day. Winds up to 15 km/h won’t be enough to fan the flames of warmth, as the daytime high of -16°C will feel closer to -26 with wind chill.
Tonight’s forecast is colder than a bad breakup, with temperatures plunging to -30°C and wind chills making it feel like -36. The risk of frostbite is high, so bundle up if you’re venturing out for a romantic evening.
Saturday isn’t offering much love, either. A mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of flurries in the morning and early afternoon will keep things chilly. Wind chills will hit -34 in the morning before warming slightly to -21 by the afternoon. By Saturday night, temperatures will drop to -32°C, proving that this cold snap is in it for the long haul.
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