Many Hatters were blindsided by just how much snow fell throughout Wednesday, and by evening most Hills in the city were either fully blocked by police, or full of cars unable to make it up.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
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Medicine Hat’s first major snowfall of the autumn was unwelcome, but hardly a surprise for city road crews on Wednesday.
“It started out as rain in the morning, but as temperatures dropped of course we had snow to deal with,” said Jeremy Petryschyn, the manager of city surface assets.
“We’d already hit the hills with sand early and graders cleared the slush of main arterials (in the afternoon).
“It’s still snowing, but we’re monitoring it and will be back out at 4 a.m. (on Thursday).”
Up to 10 to 15 centimetres (four to six inches) of heavy snow was predicted during the day on Wednesday, with local flurries, blowing snow and a low of minus-8 C overnight.
A 30 per cent chance of snow on Thursday is coupled with near freezing temperatures, but also a windchill at times of minus-13.
Warmer temperatures to begin the weekend could give way to very cold weather on Sunday and Monday.
All major highways between Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Bassano, and as far north as Hanna and Oyen were reported as covered with ice and snow by the early afternoon.
Multiple-vehicle collisions at Gleichen and Raymond slowed highway traffic.
Winter driving conditions existed throughout southwestern Saskatchewan, according to that province’s Department of Highways.
