UPDATE: Snow squall and wind warnings end in Grande Prairie area

Jan 19, 2021 | 5:57 PM

Update (4:25 a.m.): The wind warning for the City and County of Grande Prairie and the M.D. of Greenview has ended.

Update (7:30 p.m.): The snow squall warning has ended for the Grande Prairie-Beaverlodge-Valleyview forecast area. A wind warning still remains in affect.

A second weather warning has been put in place by Environment Canada Tuesday, as a snow squall warning has been issued on top of a wind warning.

The weather office says periods of brief but intense snowfall are expected, and that visibility could be rapidly reduced due to the heavy snow, combined with blowing snow.

“A brief band of heavy snow has developed and is expect to move from Northwest portions of Alberta towards the Edmonton region, and continue to move southeast this evening,” says Environment Canada.

“With this band of snow, wind gusts may locally exceed 90 km/h and in combination with the falling snow may lead to near zero visibilities.”

They add snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably, adding clear skies changing to heavy snow within just a few kilometres is common.

“Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.”

This comes after strong winds came through the area Tuesday, knocking out power just after 4:00 in many parts of the south Peace.

The snow squall warning is also in place for the north and central Peace, and east twoards Whitecourt and Edmonton.

by Shaun Penner