Skip to content

Extreme wind warning in effect for Red Deer area

Environment Canada has issued a severe wind warning for the communities of Red Deer, Ponoka, Innisfail and Stettler.

Environment Canada has issued a severe wind warning for the communities of Red Deer, Ponoka, Innisfail and Stettler.

An intense low pressure disturbance currently in British Columbia will track across southern Alberta today and lie over southwestern Saskatchewan by Tuesday morning.

Strong westerly winds gusting from 70-100 km/h will develop in the Crowsnest Pass and Cardston regions by early afternoon. Those westerly winds will then spread eastward to the areas of Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Cypress Hills and southern Brooks by late afternoon and will persist throughout the day and overnight into Tuesday.

As the low progresses eastward, strong northwest winds of 60-90 km/h will develop in the wake of the low. The strong northwest winds will develop in the Red Deer region this evening then gradually spread southward affecting the Hanna, Drumheller, Airdrie, Okotoks and Brooks regions by midnight.

Calgary will mainly be affected during the overnight period and the strong northwest winds behind the low will begin to diminish Tuesday afternoon.

In addition rain associated with the disturbance will change to wet snow overnight. Precipitation will first change to snow in northern areas near midnight and then gradually move southward overnight.

Much of the snow will melt on contact with the ground, however, accumulations may be as high as five cms in some areas. The strong winds combined with the falling snow will also generate blowing snow to generate poor visibility on roadways.

• CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED WEATHER INFORMATION FROM ENVIRONMENT CANADA