If you were thinking about running errands today, don't!
Calgary Police took to social media this morning with a blunt message for drivers: stay off the roads. They're not messing around either the post was flagged as "EXTREME WEATHER" and mentioned multiple collisions and road closures already happening across the city.
And honestly? One look outside tells you everything you need to know.
What Calgary Police Are Saying
CPS doesn't throw around "EXTREME WEATHER" warnings lightly. When they're telling people not to travel at all not "drive carefully" or "use caution" you know it's serious.
Their post this morning was direct: many collisions have already happened, road closures are in effect across the city, and they're asking everyone to monitor their social media for updates as conditions develop.
The timing makes sense. We've already had a rough year on Calgary roads traffic fatalities hit a 10-year high recently, and police have been vocal about speed and distracted driving being major factors. The last thing anyone needs is people sliding through intersections or getting stranded on Deerfoot in whiteout conditions.
Bottom line: if CPS is saying stay home, they mean it.
It's Ugly Out There
Right now we're dealing with heavy snow, blowing snow, and visibility that's basically nothing Environment Canada clocked it at 400 metres at the airport earlier this morning. The temperature's hovering around -5°C but it's going to nosedive to -13°C by this afternoon. Factor in the wind (gusting up to 80 km/h later today) and we're looking at wind chills hitting -24°C.
Oh, and there's a chance of freezing rain mixed in. Because of course there is.
We're supposed to get another 2 to 4 cm on top of what's already fallen, with blowing snow making things even messier through the afternoon.
Calgary Got Off Easy, Relatively Speaking
As bad as it is here, other parts of the province are getting absolutely hammered. Edmonton's looking at 15 to 30 cm. Areas near the Saskatchewan border? Full-on blizzard conditions with near-zero visibility. The Icefields Parkway could see half a metre by tonight.
This whole mess is thanks to an Alberta Clipper that's tearing across the Prairies. Saskatchewan and Manitoba are bracing for their turn next.
If You Have to Drive
Look, sometimes you can't avoid it. If you absolutely have to get somewhere:
Scrape your whole car off (not just a little peephole on the windshield). Go slow. Leave way more space than you think you need. Check Alberta 511 before you head out. And tell someone where you're going that's not paranoia, that's just smart when conditions are this bad.
Worth noting: this has already been a brutal year for traffic fatalities in Calgary. We don't need to add to that number.
When Does It Get Better?
The snow should taper off early this afternoon and clear up by evening. But don't get too excited temperatures are staying cold all week. Thursday's high is only -2°C, and by the weekend we're looking at -14°C during the day and lows around -22°C overnight.
The polar vortex isn't done with us yet.
Stay warm, stay home if you can, and keep an eye on Calgary Police social media for updates.
