The winter storm warning means that Airdrie, and much of southern Alberta, could be in for as much as 35 centimetres of snow in the next day or so with gusty winds to go along with that snow, making for extremely unpleasant and downright dangerous winter travel conditions.  

Alberta Transportation is telling Albertans that they might want to reconsider travel plans until after the snow event subsides.  Communications Advisor Wayne Wood says, if you have to travel, there are ways you can prepare for the conditions, the first being to know before you go.

"Probably the best thing for them to do is check 511Alberta.  That gives real-time road conditions.  You can also call up the cameras along any stretch of highway in Alberta and see what the highways look like at any particular time.  You can also track where the snow plows are operating in real time through 511Alberta as well."

Wood says if you do decide to drive, drive to the conditions and have your car ready.  "Don't forget the speed limit is the maximum allowed speed limit in ideal weather conditions, and certainly in the winter, ideal conditions don't exist.  We'd also strongly advise people to have winter or all-weather tires on their vehicles.  One of the main things that we always ask people to think about is to turn on their headlights.  That way the tail-lights are visible to people coming up behind.  If you just have your day-time running lights on the tail-lights aren't on and you're not as visible."

Wood also thinks that all drivers should carry an emergency kit at all times during the winter.

Alberta Transportation's fleet of over 600 snow plows will be out trying to keep the roads clear during the storm and after.  Wood says, "We ask that people are aware of them.  Stay well back, about 10 metres or more, if you can because they're kicking up a lot of snow and they might not be able to see you coming up.  Do not try to pass a snow plow.  They'll pull over when it's safe to do so, once every five or six kilometres or so to allow traffic to pass them.  Trying to pass a snow plow with all that snow getting dusted up is probably not a very good idea."

For up-to-date road information and traffic delays:

  • Call 511 in Alberta 
  • Visit 511.alberta.ca
  • Follow @511Alberta 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com