Snowfall causes challenges for Lethbridge drivers, relief for area ski hills

A snowfall warning was issued for Lethbridge calling for upward of 20 centimetres of snow on Monday, and it proved to be a busy day for city crews.

While some southern Albertans may be frustrated by the recent dump of snow, others are relieved.

A snowfall warning was issued for Lethbridge and parts of southern Alberta on Monday, with upwards of 15 centimetres of precipitation anticipated.

“The snow was starting around 3 a.m. this morning, so we had plows out,” said Juliane Ruck, transportation operations manager with the City of Lethbridge. “Then we mobilized more with more snow coming.”

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The first round of wintery weather caused a slow commute to work for drivers across the city.

“We’ve had a few collisions,” said Sgt. Tony Ramotowski on Monday morning. “Nothing too serious, thankfully, but there’s been an uptick in collisions.”

Police are reminding drivers it’s best to plan ahead when driving in the winter.

Other advice offered by police: be patient, leave room between vehicles and drive to the conditions.

“If the speed limit is – say it’s 80 kilometres an hour – that’s the maximum speed limit on a dry, paved road. When the winter comes and the roads are ice and snow [covered], that could be reduced to 40 or 50,” Ramotowski said.

As of Monday, the City of Lethbridge hadn’t put a snow-route declaration in place.

Ruck says there’s a number of thresholds in place that need to be meet before they’re activated.

“Resources, availability, weather changes… like we wouldn’t necessarily plow when there is a chinook coming tomorrow, so all of those points [are ones] we consider,” she said.

When declared, residents who live along a snow route have 24 hours to move parked vehicles off the street.

The city will also be offering its windrow assistance program this winter for residents who live on snow routes.

“We encourage people to download the Lethbridge Loop app, because we send out notifications 24 hours before the parking ban is in effect,” Ruck said.

“There’s 81 kilometres of roadway to be plowed, and normally it takes us 24 to 36 hours to get that completed, and then the contractors move in to create those openings for those on the windrow assistance program.”

Lethbridge County

Outside of the city, Lethbridge County crews are also working hard to keep roads clear.

“Plow routes are prioritized based on several factors including traffic volumes, emergency vehicle access, and school bus routes,” the county said in a news release. “Not all roads can be plowed right away, especially during major storms or back-to-back snowfall days.”

“Gravel roads are typically not plowed during the season’s first snowfall. These roads are not yet fully frozen and plowing can cause damage to them and our equipment. Crews may apply sand and/or gravel on a case-by-case basis to improve traction at intersections with excessive ice.”

‘Bit of relief’

Cole Fawcett, sales and marketing manager at Castle Mountain Resort, says it’s good to see the snow after an “unreasonably warm” fall.

“We’ve had lots of precipitation, just not the right kind – and certainly this feels like a turning point,” he said.

Castle Mountain is set to open for the season on Dec. 5.

“The snow today is both parts excitement and a bit of relief,” Fawcett said.

“It really is crucial at this point to receive either natural snowfall, or, at least, at the minimum, the temperatures needed to make snow… and so what we’re seeing falling from the sky right now is critical to our success in getting the resort open when we had hoped to.”

“Even more important is the cold temperatures. We’ve been able to make very little snow so far – we’ve basically had two overnight periods last week where we were able to make snow and then promptly had to shut down in the morning as a result of warming temperatures.”