The forecasters thought we were going to get a good amount of snow in the Drumheller region and it looks like they got it right.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, we received 3.5 centimetres of snow on Wednesday night and more through the morning of Thursday, although no official reports are available as of yet. Unofficial reports are between five inches (12 cm) and 9 inches (23 cm) depending on where you are in the valley. At the Stingray studios we measured 3.5 inches (9 cm) as of 10 AM on Thursday.
Stingray Weather Specialist Brandon Houck confirms that forecasters did expect this amount of snow in Central or Southern Alberta. “The big question of this system was where the heaviest snow was going to fall. The models were all very much uncertain, in the last couple of days, on who was going to get the 20-30 centimetres and who is going to get the lesser amount of so and I guess Drumheller is the winner.”
Houck admits that the forecasters anticipated a big winter weather event. “It was definitely looking at a significant amount of snow. I’ve been eyeing this (storm) since last week, seeing how it all comes together. It is a significant amount of snow, 20- 30 centimetres, with some getting up to 40 centimetres.”
The addition of wind with this storm also made things more difficult creating substantial snowdrifts around the region. The weather also made driving conditions difficult to start the day Thursday. A vehicle collided with a light post on Highway 10 just east of Walmart at around 5:30 in the morning Thursday. It sounds like the driver walked away from the accident. Also highway conditions were treacherous with RCMP from Bassano, Hanna, and Airdrie advising drivers to avoid travel on Thursday morning until conditions improve.
Houck does share that this winter weather will be short lived. “Looking ahead to next we get a nice warming trend. We get a ridge of high pressure, so there will be plenty of sunshine. We will see highs pushing the low 20’s and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some mid 20’s by the middle of next week.”
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