After major Calgary snowfall, here's what roads the city will clear next

Calgary crews are working to clear the heavy snowfall that blanketed the city over the weekend, prioritizing roads with the highest volumes, including Crowchild Trail and Glenmore Trail.

City officials say the through-lanes on major roads are in good condition for driving, and crews are working to clear connector roads such as Kensington Road and Acadia Drive.

"Our crews have been out 24/7, and prior to the storm we were out applying pre-treatment to the bridge decks and major roadways," said Troy McLeod, director of the roads department. "That really helped us as we went through this storm and continued to do work through the day.

"We'll continue tonight and into tomorrow, and we'll see our Priority 1s in good shape by rush hour. They're already in good shape as we speak."

Doug Morgan, transit general manager, said Monday it has been a challenging first snow event of the season, estimating the storm has cost the city approximately $1 million so far. 

The city said it has approximately $15 million left in its snow-and-ice-control budget for the current fiscal year, which ends Dec. 31.

Motorists can view the city's traffic cameras and road conditions map to see current conditions on Calgary roads.

Approaching records

According to Environment Canada, the storm total over the weekend brought between 27 and 31 centimetres of snow, the bulk of which fell on Sunday.

The one-day September record in Calgary is 32.8 cm, set on Sept. 19, 1968, according to the agency.

"It's been a busy weekend, and you're going to be dealing with the impact from this storm at least for a few more days, even though the event should be ending today," said Natalie Hasell with Environment Canada. "Snow should be tapering off later today."

Other areas of southern Alberta were walloped by nearly a metre of snow, including Waterton Lakes National Park.

"I'm listening to the forecast and I'm thinking, man, I'd take 30 centimetres in a minute down here," said Shameer Suleman, owner of the Bayshore Inn Resort & Spa in Waterton. 

According to Environment Canada, Waterton saw nearly a metre of snow over the weekend, reaching 95 centimetres in some unofficial reports.

Large snowfalls have often hit Calgary at this time of year.

Last year on Oct. 2, Calgary saw a record-breaking snowfall that necessitated snow-clearing help from Edmonton, Red Deer, Okotoks and Medicine Hat.

In 2014, an unusually heavy snowfall — later dubbed "Snowtember" — damaged tens of thousands of trees across the city. 

Approximately 40 cm fell on the city over the course of three days beginning Sept. 8, damaging half of Calgary's 500,000 trees on city-owned land.

This past weekend's storm wasn't as bad.

"We have some trees that are bending, you can see a few branches broken, but nothing near what we had a few years ago," McLeod said Monday.

Totals reported by Environment Canada from both official and unofficial data for the weekend include:

• Calgary: 27 to 31 cm.
• Medicine Hat: 9 cm.
• Lethbridge: 50 to 60 cm.
• Pincher Creek: 24 cm.
• Crowsnest Pass: 40 to 45 cm.

Changed routes 

The city said it did not anticipate the need to call a snow route parking ban as a result of the snowfall, as it did following last October's major snowfall.

Calgary Transit said some routes may be running behind schedule, and buses on Routes 2, 6, 7, 20, 30, 54, 82, 93, 408 and 422 were on snow detour as of 12:30 p.m. Monday.

• We want to hear from you: If you have photos or video or have a story about the snowfall this weekend, share them with us via CBC Calgary's Twitter, Facebook or email [email protected].