Hundreds of motorists are starting to move again after they were stranded in towns and on roads due to a blast of dreadful winter weather that has closed a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway in Alberta.
Travel conditions are treacherous because of powerful winds that are blowing snow and reducing visibility.
Some motorists were stuck in their vehicles or emergency shelters for almost 24 hours as the weather continued to wreak havoc in and around the Calgary area for a second day.
One person was killed in a multi-vehicle crash near Strathmore on Saturday afternoon.
Citing safety concerns, the RCMP closed a 125-kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway along Calgary's eastern city limits and Bassano, but later reopened the highway on Sunday between Strathmore and Calgary.
Still, police are urging people not to venture out on any highways in the area because there's a good chance they will become stranded.
At one point in Strathmore, RCMP officers and local emergency personnel were patrolling the highway to rescue motorists who are stuck on the side of the road and transport them to an emergency shelter at an elementary school.
The highway remained closed Sunday night between Strathmore and Bassano.
Strathmore's town council declared a local state of emergency and took in about 150 travellers became stranded when the highway closed Saturday night.
People who spent the night in their vehicles did their best to stay warm, using gas sparingly to heat their vehicles and listen to local radio stations for updates on the conditions and road closures.
Despite the major inconvenience caused by the weather, some people seemed to take the experience in stride and were extremely thankful for the Strathmore's hospitality.
Some, however, were clearly frustrated with the length of time it took to plow and reopen the highway.
But police said the blowing snow made roads so treacherous it wasn't safe for plows or graders to venture on to them.
Meanwhile, Environment Canada said conditions are gradually improving and the widespread blowing snow is expected to end by Monday morning.
The storm is weakening but has stalled southeast of Medicine Hat, generating poor winter weather conditions across much the province's southern half.
The situation is reminiscent of a similar weather event that stranded hundreds of people near Sarnia, Ont., in December.
With a report from CTV Calgary's Kevin Green
