“Winter is coming.” While it might be one of the more famous quotes from the Game of Thrones series, Ned Stark isn’t the only one issuing the warning.
Saturday evening, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement and a warning saying snow is expected in parts of Alberta starting Monday.
“We have a low developing in Alberta on Sunday, and then as it crosses the prairies, as it moves out of Alberta, it’s going to pull some cold air in down behind it,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) meteorologist Erin Staunton told 660 NewsRadio.
“And we start seeing that snow flying. It is going to be quite a change.”
While Edmonton wasn’t listed in the weather statement, the city is still facing a 30 per cent chance of snow, which as Canadians know, isn’t anything to be concerned about.
However, west of Edmonton is under a snowfall warning. According to Environment Canada, the Rocky Mountain foothills and the Swan Hills is expected to get about 10 cm of snow.
The white stuff is expected to begin falling late Sunday evening, before tapering off Monday morning. At times, the snowfall could reduce visibility, and those who are planning on travelling in the area are encouraged to be prepared for quickly changing conditions.
Environment Canada map of warnings and special statements on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (Photo Credit: Environment Canada)
Elsewhere in the province, central Alberta has been placed in a special weather statement due to expected snow. The advisory is in place as far north as Ponoka and as far south as Clareshome, fully encompassing Calgary and Red Deer.
Anyone planning on driving down Highway 2 is warned to anticipate rapidly changing conditions as rain is expected to start Monday morning, before changing to snow as the day goes on.
Central Alberta is only expected to get a few centimeters of snow, and it is unclear how much will stick around.
-With files from Darren Rathwell