Alberta Parks issued a weather advisory Thursday, warning that late-June snowfall has created hazardous trail conditions above 2,000 metres in the Spray, Kananaskis and Highwood valleys.
The advisory, effective June 26 and remaining in place until further notice, cites downed trees, lingering snow, and slippery surfaces as key risks.
“Travel is slow and unpleasant,” it reads. “Snow can make even easy to moderate trails difficult. Know your limits and hike within them.”
The agency says melting snow has created dangerous terrain, with risks ranging from slips and falls to difficult water crossings and falling debris during heat or rain.
Crews will be working in the coming weeks to clear trees on designated trails.
Environment Canada confirmed snowfall at Highwood Pass on June 22
In a June 22 interview, Environment Canada meteorologist Todd Bate said the previous weekend’s storm dropped an estimated 30 centimetres of snow at Highwood Pass.
“There was enough snowfall over Highwood Pass to stop plows from plowing the roads over there,” Bate said.
He said additional snowfall was observed in the lower foothills and along the Cowboy Trail.
Asked how unusual it was to see such snow in late June, Bate said: “It’s not that typical. But as you know, in Alberta, you can get snow almost any time of year in the higher elevations.”
The same system brought 72 millimetres of rain to Calgary International Airport, the closest official station to Airdrie.
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.