The Alberta RCMP is warning motorists in all parts of the province against travel because of whiteout conditions caused by falling snow and strong wind gusts, that in some areas are forecast to hit 130 km/hr.
The travel advisory, originally issued for many areas in southern Alberta, was expanded around 1 p.m. to the central and northern parts of the province.
The treacherous road conditions also caused multiple crashes on the QEII highway that forced the RCMP to shut down the road between Calgary and Red Deer.
“We are not allowing any traffic to come south on the QE2 at this time,” said RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney, who spoke to Global News early Wednesday afternoon. “Between the Olds Overpass and the Acme Overpass, there are numerous collisions and treacherous conditions (so) that is shut down. The highway between Airdrie and Calgary is shut down as well. We have about 80 to 100 vehicles involved in that one. There are numerous semis that have jackknifed. There are some collisions. So a lot of those vehicles are just backed up and they can’t proceed through the area,” added Slaney.
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Photos and videos posted to social media by motorists show many vehicles in the ditch and several crashes involving a multiple vehicles.
Courtesy: Shanny Reimer
With so many collisions and reports of treacherous conditions in so many areas of the province, Slaney said the RCMP decided to send out a blanket warning for the entire province.
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“Just stay home. It is not worth your life. It’s not worth risking the lives of all the first responders and emergency services that have to go and help you if you get in a collision or get stuck,” said Slaney.
The RCMP is also warning that anyone who does need to venture out to “be prepared” because if something happens, or you become stranded it will be a while before emergency crews get to you.
This multiple car pileup happened on the QEII highway between Calgary and Airdrie. It was just one of many crashes that forced the RCMP to shut down the highway between Calgary and Red Deer on Wednesday afternoon.
Courtesy: Shanny Reimer
Environment Canada issued blowing snow advisories for a large swath of southern Alberta on Wednesday, with wind gusts of up to 100 km/hr expected along the QEII highway just south of Calgary and up to 130 km/hr along Highway 3, in the Crowsnest Pass area.
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The Edmonton area was under a heavy snowfall warning with up to 30 cm of snow expected by the time it tapers off Wednesday evening.
Areas further east, closer to the Saskatchewan border, were under a winter storm warning with freezing rain eventually turning into heavy snow and strong, gusting winds.
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Edmonton expecting heavy dump of snow
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