Old Man Winter is proving to be a resilient cuss, slamming through parts of Canada with a wallop of heavy snow and freezing rain and turning roads into a smash-up derby.
“March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion,” Bavie Sara, a 66-year-old retiree, said Friday while navigating snowy streets in Edmonton.
“This time, we’re surrounded by lions.”
Mounties in Alberta say they’ve responded to 147 crashes so far and are urging drivers to keep their mirrors clear of snow and their lights on when driving. Police have not reported any fatalities.
Cars travelling on Whitemud Drive, a key artery in Edmonton, were bumper-to-bumper in both directions Thursday night after several collisions brought traffic to a standstill. Police said the road was clear just before 8:30 a.m. Friday — nearly 12 hours after the first advisory was issued.
RCMP recommended staying off the roads due to “extremely poor” conditions.
In Manitoba, some schools were shuttered and some highways closed due to the snow.
And in Saskatchewan, an army of graders and snowplows were clearing streets of snowdrifts while residents were warned to be wary of icy bridge decks.
The blizzard conditions, known as an “Alberta Clipper,” are a harsh reminder that winter conditions remain a threat despite spring’s official start about a week ago.
Shovelling snow outside downtown Edmonton’s Days Inn by Wyndham, Dallas Mayer said the conditions make for nerve-wracking travel. But the hotel’s maintenance manager said there are silver linings to the storm.
“It’s nice when you look out the window,” Mayer said.
Environment Canada is predicting up to 30 centimetres of snow, with possible power outages from Edmonton to the shores of Lake Ontario. In southern Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area, freezing rain is expected until Sunday.
Ontario police are also advising against unnecessary travel over the weekend.
— With files from Fakiha Baig in Edmonton.
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