The Grande Prairie area is in for some heavy snowfall, but it won't end there. Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada Kyle Fougere says the winter storm will bring cold arctic air with it as well.

"We're expecting temperatures to get down into the minus 20s as a high for Saturday and Sunday, and then in the mornings on Monday/Tuesday lows into the minus 30s."

A snowfall warning is in effect for the Grande Prairie - Beaverlodge - Valleyview and Peace River - Fairview - High Prairie - Manning regions. A total of 15 to 30 centimetres is expected by Saturday afternoon.

Fougere explains it's the result of a low-pressure system that developed Thursday from the Edmonton area towards Grande Prairie. It's expected to further develop overnight.

"It's going to last for quite a long time," adds Fougere. "It's a pretty slow moving low as it moves from B.C. into Alberta and then slowly moves off to the east. That's going to lead to a long duration snowfall event."

The snow is expected to be fluffy, making it larger in volume but easier to deal with than heavy snow that's hard to shovel in the spring. However, Fougere warns Friday will be a bad day to travel.

"The snow is going to be heavy at times and the winds are going to be pretty good from the east - probably 20, gusting 40 kilometres an hour - which will reduce visibility, so anybody travelling [Friday] and early in the day Saturday should expect to see poor visibilities in the snow and encounter quite a bit of snow on their journey."

The local forecast for Grande Prairie is calling for five to 10 centimetres of snow, at times heavy, Thursday night with a windchill of minus 29 overnight and a risk of frostbite. Another 10 centimetres of snow is expected Friday, and then five to 10 Friday night.

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Thanks to recent snowfall, City of Grande Prairie snow clearing crews are back on priority 1 routes. A total of 6.4 centimetres fell at the airport Sunday, and strong winds have led to blowing snow over the last couple of days.

The city says downtown will be plowed overnight Monday, and once priority 1 routes are cleared crews will move to priority 2 ones. A parking ban is still in effect for both from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. The City's sidewalks and trails are also being cleared.

Meanwhile, contractors are clearing residential areas the day before their scheduled garbage pickup. They will be in Southview, Patterson, Country Club, Country Club West, Countryside North, Countryside South, Summerside, and Signature Falls Tuesday.

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The County of Grande Prairie is still working to clean up from Saturday's snowfall. Crews moved to Whispering Ridge and Westlake Village Wednesday, after clearing main paved roads and arterial and local gravel ones.

Hamlet crews began in Clairmont Monday, moving to Wedgewood afterwards. Residents are asked to watch for snow removal in their neighbourhood and to make sure vehicles aren't parked on the road at that time.

People are also reminded not to push snow from their property on to the road as the County says it can slow down the snow clearing process and create a safety hazard for traffic.

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Grande Prairie saw more than 18 centimetres of snowfall Saturday, smashing through two 69-year-old weather records. In total, the airport recorded 18.3 centimetres, far surpassing the 10.2 centimetres that fell on December 29, 1949.

A total of 10.2 millimetres of precipitation was also recorded that day 69 years ago, passed by the 15.3 millimetres seen Saturday. A snowfall warning was issued by Environment Canada Friday afternoon, predicting between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow by Sunday morning.

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A snowfall warning has been issued for the Peace River - Fairview - High Prairie - Manning region. Environment Canada says a total of 10 to 20 centimetres is expected.

The forecast is calling for a band of heavy snow to move from British Columbia into northern Alberta Thursday. It's expected to start in Peace River in the afternoon, moving east towards Fort McMurray by the evening.

Environment Canada predicts the snow will end in the western part of Alberta Friday evening, and overnight Friday into Saturday morning for places closer to the Saskatchewan border. Strong wind gusts of 50 to 70 kilometres are also in the forecast for Friday afternoon, leading to poor visibility.

"By the end of this event upwards of 20 centimetres of snow will be possible for some communities," Environment Canada adds. "Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions."

The forecast for Grande Prairie is calling for two centimetres of snow with wind gusting up to 40 kilometres an hour Thursday.

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More than a millimetre of rain fell on November 15th for the first time in 43 years. Environment Canada says the Grande Prairie Airport recorded 4.8 millimetres of rain Thursday, unofficially surpassing the previous record of one millimetre set in 1975.

The overnight rain was followed by a day of heavy snowfall. A total of seven centimetres fell before midnight, bringing the precipitation total to 11.8 millimetres.

The snowfall and precipitation records for November 15th were set only three years ago. There was 15.4 centimetres of snow and 14.4 millimetres of precipitation on that day in 2015.

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Thursday's heavy snowfall means City crews are essentially restarting their snow removal process. Plows were back on priority 1 and 2 routes, which are also being sanded and salted.

At this point, it's undecided whether a round of residential snow removal will be started. The city says that will depend on how much snow Grande Prairie gets, the temperature, and the weather forecast. Residential streets weren't tackled after the snowfall earlier in November.

The windrows from that snow on priority 2 routes have been picked up, but some are still left on priority 3 routes. Sidewalks and trails are also still being cleared. A parking ban has not been put back into effect.

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UPDATE: Alberta Transportation has issued a Traveller's Advisory due to the snowfall warnings in place for western and northwestern Alberta. Drivers are encouraged to postpone any unnecessary highway travel.

A snowfall warning has been issued for the Grande Prairie – Beaverlodge – Valleyview region. A total of 10 to 15 centimetres of snow is expected, although isolated pockets of 20 centimetres are possible.

Environment Canada asks people to be prepared to adjust their driving with changing road conditions. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.

Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for taillights ahead and be prepared to stop.

In Grande Prairie, the forecast is calling for two to four centimetres, although the west part of the city is looking at 10.

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Snow plows in Grande Prairie have moved to bus routes and major collector roads. The City confirmed Tuesday afternoon it had cleared all priority one routes after Sunday's snowfall.

A parking ban is in effect for all permanent snow routes, which include bus routes, 100th Street, 68th Avenue, Resources Road, and Highway 40/Wapiti Road. Vehicles can't be parked on those roads from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays so they can be cleared more quickly.

Windrows are being stored in the centre of priority two routes, and those are expected to be picked up starting Wednesday. At this point, plows aren't heading into other residential areas.

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The City of Grande Prairie managed to unofficially shatter the November 4th precipitation record. A total of 17.3 millimetres of precipitation was recorded at the Grande Prairie Airport, far surpassing the previous record of 11.1 millimetres set in 1991.

The day started with freezing rain overnight, and a total of 6.5 millimetres fell. By a hair, that didn't meet the record of 6.6 millimetres set in 1956. The snow followed, with 11 centimetres falling. The record for November 4th is 11.5 centimetres, also set in 1991.

A snowfall warning for the region was issued Friday evening. It was lifted Sunday. Road conditions around the Peace country were reported to be poor all weekend.

The Town of Beaverlodge more than doubled its own precipitation record Sunday. It saw 12.4 millimetres, when the previous record was 5.4 millimetres set in 2006.

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Between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow is in the forecast for the region, prompting a warning for Grande Prairie - Beaverlodge Valleyview and Peace River - Fairview - High Prairie - Manning.

Environment Canada says a band of heavy snow is going to be spread through the north-central parts of Alberta starting overnight. It will then move into northern Saskatchewan by Sunday night.

"Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult," Environment Canada warns. "Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions."

The forecast for the City of Grande Prairie is calling for five to 10 centimetres of snow overnight, heavy at times starting early Saturday evening. Another 10 centimetres is in the forecast for Sunday.

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[caption id="attachment_44100" align="alignright" width="225"] A vehicle in the ditch on Highway 43 the morning of September 12, 2018, Caitlin Robinson[/caption]

People in Grande Prairie woke up to their city under a blanket of snow Wednesday morning. The light snow started around 9 p.m. Tuesday night, with one centimetre building up before midnight. From 11 p.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, roughly 10 centimetres of snow fell at the Grande Prairie Airport.

This is the first time since Environment Canada started keeping records in 1942 that any measurable amount of snow has fallen in Grande Prairie on September 12th. It is also the first time in four years that any snow has been seen in September.

A snowfall warning remains in effect for the Grande Prairie - Beaverlodge - Valleyview region. It's expected to taper off from the Grande Prairie area starting Wednesday evening. There's still a chance of snow Thursday morning.

There's still a bit of time left in the Swan City's golf season, but not surprisingly both The Dunes Golf & Country Club and the
Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club have shut down for the day. The Grande Prairie Airport says its runways are warm enough to melt the falling snow and it's business as usual for travellers.

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https://www.facebook.com/grandprairiegcc/photos/a.115851145105276/2124532850903752/?type=3

https://www.facebook.com/dunesgolfclub/posts/1865454366823552?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCA_6c9UObbTlO03padu3I4XjzAW9xqwYu17wbY-wPGynTXFtIPQ9TaWRCOqnK1Nk9XQngB4hpfV5xt04OItfQxVV0avEyk6oL1PINKOFUhZMqmj83n1dlzoUD2H7bEWcIRozcSi5tnS7DUcBpsRrXJByd3uAOcb1GYiFxVajZmAEEDdN_3Vw&__tn__=-R

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A snowfall warning has been issued for the Grande Prairie - Beaverlodge - Valleyview region. Environment Canada says the rain today is expected to turn into snow tonight.

A total of 10 to 15 centimetres is in the forecast as a cold front moves into the region. However, it's noted that how much falls will vary significantly based on elevation and the ground temperature. The snow should drop off Wednesday night.

In Grande Prairie, the forecast is calling for five to 10 centimetres of snow that will be heavy at times. Environment Canada reminds drivers to turn their lights on and keep a distance if their visibility is reduced.

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Grande Prairie will likely see snow in September for the first time in four years. Environment Canada is calling for a chance of snow on Wednesday, September 12th, and meteorologist Alysa Pederson says we'll probably see some fall.

"A lot of the different computer models we've looked at are indicating that the snow is likely for Wednesday, so, unfortunately, confidence is actually pretty good considering we're looking out five days. We should be getting some measurable snow."

The last time the Swan City saw more than just a trace amount of snow in September was in 2014 when 6.4 centimetres fell in two days during the second week of the month. Pederson says it's not unusual for the region.

"Because of the mountains to our west, Alberta does see high variability in their fall seasons. A couple of years ago in 2013 Calgary actually got 20 centimetres of snow over two days on September 8th and 9th. So, it's possible, especially with the terrain."

Friday could be the last warm day of the summer. A weather system is expected to move through northwestern Alberta this weekend, which Pederson says will likely bring rain Friday night and more through Sunday and Monday.

The system from the Northwest Territories thought to bring air cold enough to lead to the snow next week should move in Tuesday night. Looking further ahead, Pederson says things could get better for the Peace Country, as it looks like another El Nino is on its way.

"For most of Alberta, we should be getting indications of a more mild winter, just a little bit drier than typical winters would be climatologically speaking. Our seasonal forecast is indicating possibly above normal temperatures for the next few months."

Normal temperatures in Grande Prairie for this time of year are highs of around 17 degrees and lows of plus five. This weekend into the middle of next week is forecast to be below normal. Pederson urges residents to get prepared for winter weather ahead of time.

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Grande Prairie has more than doubled a nearly 70 year old snowfall record. Unofficially, 9.4 centimetres fell at the airport Monday, while the record was 4.3.

That was set back in 1950. Environment Canada says a precipitation record was also broken, with 9.2 millimetres just beating the 8.9 seen on April 16, 1986.

The snowfall warning for the region has ended, but around two more centimetres is expected in the city Tuesday.

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Winter appears to be far from over in Grande Prairie. A snowfall warning for the Grande Prairie - Beaverlodge - Valleyview region has been issued, with anywhere between 10 and 20 centimetres of heavy, wet snow in the forecast.

Environment Canada says there is a low pressure system moving into the area that will bring snow in parts of Alberta today and tonight. It has already started in the southwestern parts of the province and should move north throughout the day.

The snow is expected to end tonight. In Grande Prairie, the forecast is calling for 5 to 10 centimetres over the western part of the city today, another 5 to 10 overnight, and then two more centimetres Tuesday.

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Grande Prairie has unofficially broken a more than 30 year old snowfall record. Environment Canada says a total of 12 centimetres of snow was recorded at the Grande Prairie Airport on Monday, passing the previous record of 11.6 centimetres set on March 26, 1987.

Another 0.4 millimetres of rain also fell Monday. City Transportation Services Manager Robert Carroll says there are no plans to start a residential snow removal cycle just yet. The snowfall warning for the region has ended.

The County of Grande Prairie says it's working to clear the most recent dump of snow from its roads, starting with the main paved ones. They'll be followed by arterial and local gravel roads.

The hamlet crew will finish up roads in Clairmont north of 100 Avenue today, then move on to Whispering Ridge and Westlake. Next will be Wedgewood. Residents of those neighbourhoods are asked to watch for plows and to not park on the street while it's being cleared.

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A snowfall warning has been issued for the Grande Prairie - Beaverlodge - Valleyview and Peace River - Fairview - High Prairie - Manning regions. A total of 10 to 15 centimetres is expected.

Environment Canada says a low pressure system should develop over western Alberta tonight, and bring five to 15 centimetres of snow by Tuesday afternoon. The heaviest snowfall will be seen along a line from Peace River to Slave Lake.

The heavy snow could suddenly reduce visibility, so anyone driving is encouraged to adjust to the conditions. That includes turning on their vehicle's lights and keeping a safe following distance.

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Grande Prairie got 23.2 centimetres of snow Friday, nearly doubling the previous record and topping off five days straight of heavy snowfall. The previous record snowfall for February 2nd was 12.2 centimetres set back in 1999.

RCMP issued a travel advisory Friday, due to snow and icy road conditions, especially along Highway 40. Since Monday, 51.2 centimetres of snow has fallen in the city.

City of Grande Prairie snow removal crews continue to work around-the-clock to clear all priority one and two routes. Transportation manager Robert Carroll says it will take at least two weeks to clear windrows off of priority two roads, with a focus on school zones.

"Hopefully we will make good progress over the weekend but a break in the continuous snowfall will be nice."

Residential areas are on hold for the weekend. They'll be in Mountview, Summit, VLA/Montrose, Hillside, Crystal Heights, Ivy Lake, and Crystal Landing on Monday.

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