Snowfall warning continues
Parking ban takes effect tonight for snow routes
As snow continues to accumulate across the Calgary region, a parking ban on snow routes is scheduled to take effect Monday evening to allow crews to clear major roads.
The parking ban will begin Monday at 6 p.m. and is expected to be in effect for 72 hours, or until lifted by the city.
The city announced the ban after significant snow accumulation occurred since Friday afternoon, and as a snowfall warning continued for Calgary and surrounding areas.
“We’re basing this off of a forecast that’s looking at up to 20 more cm by (Monday), so we’re hoping that by the time the ban’s in effect that we’ll actually be ... getting into the Priority 2 routes,” said Chris McGeachy with the City of Calgary roads unit.
Drivers faced numerous icy patches on city roads, including Deerfoot Trail, where the exit to Southland seemed particularly treacherous. While most drivers were taking their time to get to their destinations, the occasional vehicle was travelling too fast for road conditions.
McGeachy said crews have been focused on Priority 1 roads, including routes likes Crowchild and Glenmore trails, since the snow started falling Friday.
Environment Canada meteorologist Heather Rombough said parts of Calgary had received 12 to 15 cm of snowfall as of Sunday afternoon. Another 10 to 15 cm was expected as the snow continued Sunday and Monday.
“There’ll still be continual snow through Monday,” said Rombough.
“It should start to taper off by Monday night.”
“It’s a long duration with a lot of moisture so it’s just adding up to quite a bit of snow.”
Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Calgary and surrounding areas Sunday, while other areas of the province have been warned of a “potentially crippling snowstorm” with 40 to 60 cm of snow forecasted.
Winter storm warnings were issued for Cardston, Fort Macleod, Magrath, Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek and Waterton Lakes National Park. Snowfall warnings were also issued for Banff, Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan, Calgary, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Jasper, Canmore, Kananaskis, Lethbridge, Taber, Milk River, Medicine Hat, Bow Island, Suffield, Okotoks, High River and Claresholm.
With icy roads and the sudden dump of snow, Calgary police said there were a total of 375 collisions in the city between 4 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. There were 21 collisions that involved injuries and 60 hit-andruns.
While collision numbers across the rest of the province weren’t available at press time, RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Laurel Scott said it appeared that Alberta escaped the weekend without any fatal crashes.
Heavy snowfall, blowing snow and poor visibility led to the closure of Highway 3 in the Crowsnest Pass, from Coleman to the B.C. border.
Rombough said the heavy snowfall is due to a continued stream of moisture coming in off the Pacific.
Frigid temperatures are forecast for today and Tuesday, with lows of –26 C and –24 C, but a warming trend is expected to begin Wednesday. The high currently forecast for Friday is 2 C.
Streets included in the parking ban are major roadways, collector roads and most bus routes. The routes are identified by blue signs with a white snowflake. Accessible parking zones are not affected by the ban, and residents are still able to use the ParkPlus system zones during the day.
Vehicles that remain parked on snow routes during the ban are subject to enforcement, including a parking ticket and tow.