It may be late April, but a gusty snowstorm was making a mess of traffic across Alberta on Friday.
The RCMP are warning of “treacherous” road conditions in multiple parts of the province, and there are a number of snowfall and wind warnings.
Highway 63 clearing underway
On Friday evening, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo announced it had sent buses, food and water alongside its fleet of heavy equipment on Highway 63.
Although the highway remained blocked, abandoned vehicles were being temporarily towed to Mile Market 160 at the Conoco turn-off.
People still stuck on the roads were offered buses and emergency vehicles travelling to and from Fort McMurray.
Four buses with different drop-off points have been assigned to bring residents back to their neighbourhoods. Beyond that, people were responsible for making their own arrangements to get home.
The bus drop off points are:
- Timberlea - Independent parking lot
- Thickwood - Centrefire Place parking lot
- Downtown - Walmart parking lot
- Beacon Hill/Gregoire - Frank Lacroix parking lot
Heavy wreckers and tow trucks were still working to free vehicles from snow drifts, the municipality said.
Highway 63 and 881 are provincial highways maintained by the province, but surrounding municipalities like Lac La Biche and Athabasca had deployed their own resources to help out.
Hannah Kavanagh, CTV News Edmonton digital producer
Highway 63 closed Friday night
Highway 63 will remain closed Friday night as a result of heavy snowfall and winds going into Saturday, RCMP said just after 4 p.m.
These closures were in place:
- Highway 63: Northbound traffic will be blocked by Alberta Sheriffs at Wandering River.
- Highway 63: Southbound traffic will be blocked by Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Bylaw officers at the junction of Highway 881.
- Highway 881: Northbound and Southbound travel remains blocked north of Imperial Mills by Lac La Biche RCMP.
“Snowplows, tow trucks, and Wood Buffalo RCMP will continue working together throughout the weekend in order to assist the stranded motorists and remove vehicles in order to re-open the highways,” RCMP added.
Approximately 300 vehicles are stranded along the highway.
Diego Romero, CTV News Edmonton online news supervisor
Tow ban issued for central Alberta highways
Alberta RCMP issued a tow ban for highways northeast of Edmonton just before 2 p.m.
The ban is in effect for Highway 21 south from Fort Saskatchewan to the Yellowhead, then east along the Yellowhead to Elk Island National Park.
Mounties said blowing and drifting snow have reduced visibility and made any tow attempts too dangerous.
Police were responding to “several minor collisions” in the area.
Hannah Kavanagh, CTV News Edmonton digital producer
Alberta RCMP issue provincewide update
Mounties issued an the main storm-related traffic issues in Alberta just after 12 p.m.
In it, police say drivers should avoid all eastern Alberta roads because heavy snowfall and winds are causing whiteout conditions.
Up in Wood Buffalo, the following road closures remain in place, according to RCMP:
- Highway 63: Northbound at Wandering River to Fort McMurray - hazardous road conditions reported.
- Highway 63: Northbound and Southbound travel affected between south of Marianna Lake and Fort McMurray - hazardous road conditions reported.
- Highway 881: Northbound and Southbound travel affected north of Imperial Mills – collision reported.
“Alberta RCMP do NOT recommend any travel in these areas. Due to high call volumes for multiple collisions and stranded motorists, with poor road and weather conditions as factors, emergency response may take longer than normal,” police said.
“If you are stranded, stay with your vehicle. RCMP, emergency crews, tow trucks, snowplows, and sanding trucks are active in the area.”
Diego Romero, CTV News Edmonton online news supervisor
Car crashes in Edmonton
In the capital city, a total of 60 car crashes were reported from 4 p.m. on Thursday to 11 a.m. on Friday, according to Accident Support Services International.
Firefighters and emergency services responded to what appeared to be a single-vehicle crash on Whitemud Drive during the morning rush hour.
Diego Romero, CTV News Edmonton online news supervisor
Road conditions and weather warnings
511 Alberta shows road conditions across the province. Roads marked in red are closed, while purple ones are not recommended.
Environment Canada is showing several weather alerts across Alberta; mostly special weather statements, but some wind and snow warnings as well.
Diego Romero, CTV News Edmonton online news supervisor
Impassable highways
In northern Alberta, Highway 63 between Highway 881 and mile marker 140 is impassable Friday morning following extreme road and weather conditions on Thursday and overnight.
With ongoing high winds and blowing snow, police are escorting tow trucks to reach stranded vehicles.
Mounties ask drivers to avoid the area.
Just north of Edmonton, a crash between two semi-trucks is blocking Highway 881 in both directions near Hearth Lake.
The roads are “unsurpassable” and RCMP asked drivers to avoid the highway.
In eastern Alberta, including Kitscoty, Vermilion and Lloydminster, poor visibility, icy roads, high winds, and blowing snow are causing “extremely poor” driving conditions.
Travel is not recommended on Highways 897, 41, 45 and 16, where police have responded to multiple crashes.
Diego Romero, CTV News Edmonton online news supervisor
