Albertans wake up to blizzard

Satellite imagery of Alberta and west coast of Canada as viewed by GEOS-16 East at 10:30am CDT

Many Albertans are waking up to a #winter #storm and #blizzard conditions this morning. Parts of the province have been under blizzard and winter storm warnings since yesterday.

Below is a camera view of Trans-Canada Hwy 1 east of Calgary. This area is currently under a blizzard warning. These conditions are expected to move east with time and impact southern Saskatchewan later today into tomorrow. For more details about that click here: https://www.nzpchasers.com/blog/blizzard-possible-for-sk-ab-this-weekend

Live road camera by AB511 at 9:23am local time. This is east of Calgary, AB

"A late season winter storm will track through Central Montana Saturday afternoon through Sunday, bringing snow and strong winds to much of Northcentral Montana. A Blizzard Warning has been issued for most Northcentral Montana for tonight through Sunday afternoon. In addition, a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Meagher and Southern Lewis and Clark counties for Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon. Snow could be heavy at times Saturday night into Sunday, with 2 to 5 inches expected at lower elevations and 5 to 10 inches expected in the mountains. Blowing snow & whiteout conditions will create poor visibility at times, as winds gusts around 45 to 60 mph." -NWS Great Falls, MT

Below is the surface analysis this morning by ECCC, depicting lee-cyclogenesis in Alberta, inducing heavy snowfall rates for parts of the province.

Surface analysis done by Environment Canada at 12z Saturday morning

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Valid warnings from Environment Canada as of 11:30am EDT

Warnings

8:52 AM MDT Saturday 27 April 2019 Blizzard warning in effect for:

• Drumheller - Three Hills

• Brooks - Strathmore - Vulcan

• Cypress Hills Provincial Park - Foremost

• Hanna - Coronation - Oyen

• Lethbridge - Taber - Milk River

• Medicine Hat - Bow Island - Suffield

Blizzard conditions with poor visibility in snow and blowing snow are expected or occurring. Blizzard conditions are expected to develop over south eastern Alberta this evening and continue overnight. Strong winds near 50 km/h with gusts up to 90 km/h and plentiful falling snow will give greatly reduced visibilities with periods of whiteout conditions including over eastern sections of the Trans Canada Highway.

Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone. Blizzard warnings are issued when widespread reduced visibilities of 400 metres or less are expected for at least 4 hours.