Lloydminster may be in store for a snowstorm this weekend. Environment Canada says the city is expected to accumulate 15 to 30 cm of snow by Saturday afternoon.
A snowfall warning was issued Thursday morning in order to prepare residents for the possible flurry. Meteorologist Kyle Fougere says the expected storm may be the biggest snowfall event the Lloydminster area has seen so far this winter.
“A band of snow that is currently stretching from Edmonton to Grande Prairie is going to really develop [Thursday night]. The snow is going to start in Lethbridge tonight and it will be at times heavy. It’s going to last quite a long time, it’s a pretty slow moving low as it moves from B.C into Alberta, and then slowly moves off to the east and that’s going to lead to a long duration snowfall event.”
Residents may want to continue wrapping up after the snowstorm, Fougere says the storm will bring in colder arctic air. Temperatures are expected be minus 20 as a high for Saturday and Sunday. The cold snap looks to kick off next week as Monday and Tuesday morning are expected to get down to a low of minus 30.
“This band of snow follows the Yellowhead basically. From western Alberta, it goes right through Edmonton towards Lloydminster and then down through Saskatoon to Yorkton. So, it’s a pretty good band of snow, a wide swath of snow with significant amounts. It’s going to be pretty fluffy snow which will make the amounts falling higher.”
Anyone who plans to travel this weekend may notice poor visibility, Fougere says Friday will be specifically tough for drivers, especially on the Yellowhead. Winds are expected to gust up to 20 km/hr to 40 km/hr over the next 4 days. Environment Canada recommends drivers consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.