Snow tires could come in handy this weekend.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has forecast 10 to 15 centimetres of snow for the Red Deer area starting with rain, or rain mixed with snow, on Friday night.
“(Saturday) it’s looking like there will be snow accumulating. Winds will be pretty strong from the northeast, 40 kilometres per hour gusting to 60. So (Saturday) is looking like a pretty ugly day in the Red Deer area,” said meteorologist Kyle Fougere.
He said a strong, vigorous low pressure system with a lot of moisture is moving into the province.
“Alberta is going to get hit pretty hard. There’s going to be pretty widespread 10 to 15 centimetres of snow with this system.”
He said the Foothills, where there is some upslope wind, will probably get hit with more than 15 centimetres. The southeast part of the province, where the low pressure system will form, will also see more.
The snow and winds should make for messy conditions on Saturday and Sunday and warnings will likely be issued, he said.
“If anyone has travel plans this weekend, they should definitely be aware of the weather in the province and to check out the watches and warnings before travelling.”
He said near-zero temperatures mean snow will be sticky, with flakes clumping together. People should take breaks while shoveling the wet, heavy snow.
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Fougere said on average, Red Deer gets 17 centimetres of snow in April. It usually comes in big dumps, but it doesn’t happen every year. In 2017, 22 centimetres fell, but in 2016, the city only saw four centimetres.
He said Red Deer gets an average of 27 millimetres of precipitation in April.
“In May, we get 54 millimetres, so twice as much. Given how dry it’s been, I think quite a few people will be happy to see that.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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