Snowfall warnings issued as Alberta braces for heavy dump Thursday

Alberta is bracing for heavy snowfall starting early Thursday that could bring up to 20 centimetres of snow in some areas.

Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park are included in a list of nearly 100 warnings for large swaths of central and northern Alberta, from Grande Prairie in the northwest across to Bonnyville and south as far as Canmore. The warnings do not extend to Red Deer or Calgary or the southeastern part of the province.

Environment Canada says 10 to 20 centimetres of snow is expected. The snowfall is expected to become heavy Thursday morning before coming to an end later in the evening. 

"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow," the weather agency said in a warning for Edmonton issued Thursday morning.

"There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions."

The forecast for Edmonton calls for heavy snow and gusting winds with the risk of freezing drizzle.

Thursday morning will see snow "at times heavy" in the city, with the wind chill making it feel as cold as –14. The high will be –2 C in the morning, dropping in the afternoon and evening to a low of –13 C.

Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said an Alberta clipper system is moving though the province Thursday, which will bring "a good dose of snowfall" to parts of central Alberta, including the Edmonton region.

"You're going to find those snow shovels if you put them away because it's going to feel very much like winter over the next 24 hours," she said. 

Climenhaga said the snowfall will ramp up Thursday morning and should ease in the evening. Some areas may see high winds that could create blowing snow conditions.

In Edmonton, the snow is expected to end near midnight with flurries expected to continue through Friday morning.