Although we have had a good amount of snow already this winter we could be in store for a strong storm Monday night to Tuesday morning.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a “yellow” weather advisory for most of East Central Alberta, including Three Hills, Hanna, Stettler, and Drumheller with a blast of winter weather expected in the overnight hours of Monday night. According to Stingray Weather Specialist Brandon Houck a “clipper” system is on it’s way. “We have a fast moving ‘clipper’ system moving through. It’s bringing a buffet of weather. We are either going to get a bit of freezing rain or get a little bit of snow, strong winds gusting to 90 km/h, and also a potential for a bit of a flash freeze. It could lead to some icy, dicey conditions, especially tonight and into tomorrow morning. It is a very fast moving system so it will only be happening for two to three hours tonight and then it is gone by the morning.” He also shares that there will be a risk of some snow squalls tonight so advises if you have to travel tomorrow, maybe hold off until later in the morning / afternoon.
Snow squalls are not as common in this area compared to the lake effect snow squalls they see in Ontario but Houck notes that the ones we will potentially see Monday night will be different. “These are going to be like frontal snow squalls. Kind of like summer time convection but without the summer and lightning.”
It looks like the storm will not amount to much accumulation according to Houck. “Probably anywhere from 2 to 4 centimetres, so it is not going to be a whole lot of accumulation. The rapid change scenario from today and tonight is probably the biggest concern with this system before the next clipper system comes later this week, that going to have a lot more snow.”
The next system is going to be packed with snow and cold temperatures. Houck expects between 5 to 10 centimetres on Thursday / Friday with daytime highs being in the -20 range.
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