Edmonton weather: Winter storm rages all day

As Cory Edel reports, Edmonton will receive about 10 to 20 centimetres of snow on Wednesday.

A winter storm will rage all day.

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Gusty wind and heavy snow will end this evening.

A snowfall warning (yellow level) is in effect for Edmonton and areas northwest to Grande Prairie.

In general, 10-20 cm is expected...but some areas could see closer to 30 cm.

Measuring that snowfall could be difficult given all the drifting we’re going to see today.

AND...the gusty wind will significantly reduce visibility with the blowing snow. If you can avoid or delay highway travel today, that’s the safest bet.

Gusts will be in the 30-40 km/h range for most of the day in the Edmonton region.

BUT...areas to the south and southeast of Edmonton will have even stronger wind and could see 30-40 km/h sustained wind with gusts closer to 70 km/h.

A winter storm warning (yellow level) is in effect for areas just off to the southeast of Edmonton and throughout east-central Alberta. Heavy snow and gusty wind will create near-blizzard conditions later today with visibility near zero in some areas, especially around Hanna/Coronation this afternoon.

Areas from Red Deer south to Calgary are under a blowing snow advisory. Those regions should see slightly less snow, but gusts in the 50-70 km/h range.

The heaviest snow in the Edmonton area should fall around midday today and the snow should taper off and move out of the region early this evening.

We’re also expecting wind gusts to back off late this afternoon and this evening.

Tomorrow should be a calmer day with a mix of sun and cloud. But, there’s a good chance of another 2-5 cm of snow late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

THEN...the deep freeze returns. Daytime highs drop into the -20s for several days starting Friday and continuing through to at least Tuesday of next week.

Here’s the forecast for Edmonton and area:

Today - 10 to 20cm of snow, heaviest midday. Snow tapering off by this evening.

Wind NE 20 gusting to 40 km/h.

Temperature falling through the day.

Noon: -16

5pm: -17

Tonight - Clearing overnight. Light wind.

9pm: -18

Thursday - Mix of sun & cloud. 60% chance of snow in the evening/overnight.

Morning Low: -20

Afternoon High: -10

Friday - 30% chance of flurries in the morning. Sunny breaks in the afternoon.

Wind gusts in the 30-40 km/h range.

Temperature falling through the day.

Morning: -15

Afternoon: -20

Saturday - Partly cloudy.

Morning Low: -25

Afternoon High: -22

Sunday - Mix of sun & cloud. 40% chance of evening flurries.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Morning Low: -28

Afternoon High: -23

Monday - Mostly cloudy.

Morning Low: -30

Afternoon High: -24