Snow day in Calgary
City digs out after record dumping of the white stuff
CALGARY — People in Calgary are digging out from the snowiest October day in 104 years.
Roads and highways in and around the city Wednesday were covered in heavy, wet snow after Tuesday’s snowfall.
Parts of Calgary reported snowfall amounts of up to 40 centimetres in a 12-hour period with similar amounts in the mountain parks and other areas of southern Alberta.
Calgary police reported 251 collisions and dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed at Calgary International Airport.
At one point, 80 transit buses were stuck or stalled on slippery streets. Officials say the buses are not equipped with snow tires.
To help Calgary dig out of the mess, the City of Edmonton sent 30 snowplows to assist its neighbour.
Red Deer and Medicine Hat were also sending equipment to Calgary.
“We’re dealing with an unseasonably harsh dose of winter very early in our season,” Tom Sampson, chief of Calgary’s Emergency Operations Centre said.
RCMP said icy roads may have been a factor in a fatal two-vehicle crash in Rocky View County. A 45-year-old Airdrie man died of his injuries in hospital.
Environment Canada warned the heavy, wet snow may cause some trees to break.
The snow tapered off Tuesday night and cleared out of the region by Wednesday.
RCMP say the Trans-Canada Highway west of Calgary was in poor condition and drivers were asked to avoid travel in the area if possible.
Some Calgary residents took the storm in stride.
A video posted on social media showed a cross-country skier gliding along a downtown sidewalk.
Photos released by the Calgary Zoo showed its pandas, who arrived at the zoo in May, frolicking in the frosty flakes.