Winter storm blankets Calgary, grounding flights but helping WinSport

Winter weather is back, and driving conditions across Calgary and southern Alberta are hazardous.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a winter storm warning for Calgary and other parts of southern Alberta as snow blanketed the area.

“We are back into winter conditions. We are anticipating that by this evening, 15 centimetres of snow will have fallen around Calgary,” said Chris McGeachy, City of Calgary mobility communications strategist.

City crews are focusing on clearing priority 1 roads like Crowchild Trail, Glenmore Trail and Memorial Drive.

“Those are the busiest roads that carry over 20,000 daily trips,” said McGeachy.

When the snowfall ends, the clock activates, with city crews focusing on high-volume roadways for the first 18 hours after the snowfall.

Additional crews will also focus on pedestrian infrastructure.

“Clearing things like pedestrian overpasses, you know, important pedestrian connectors—of course, that work is done to completion between the end of snowfall and the first 24 hours,” said McGeachy.

As of 8 a.m., there were 18 crashes, with one resulting in an injury.

It’s not just drivers struggling to get around, as WestJet cancelled 27 flights out of YYC Calgary International Airport.

Shang Fushen, along with three other travellers, flew into Calgary from Taiwan.

They found out Tuesday morning their flight to Yellowknife was cancelled due to weather.

“We get to Calgary, and we can’t do anything,” said Fushen.

“I cannot describe how upset I am; it’s frustrating.”

WestJet has issued approximately 100 weather-related flight cancellations in regions affected by the winter storm in Western Canada.

In a statement to CTV News, the company is advising guests with imminent travel plans to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

Additionally, WestJet has listed a travel advisory for Southern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, enabling passengers to change and cancel Tuesday and Wednesday flights.

‘Good Timing’ for WinSport

The snowstorm might be trouble for many people, but WinSport is welcoming the winter weather.

“It was good to get some of this cold weather,” said Dale Oviatt, director of marketing and communications for WinSport.

“First of all, Mother Nature’s own snow, and then … the opportunity for a couple of nights this week to make our own snow as well.”

Oviatt says if the warm weather had continued, there would have been a lot of bare patches on the hill.

“As much as we make all the snow we need by Christmas and usually get enough until April, this has been an unusually warm February for us,” said Oviatt.

Oviatt says 97 per cent of area snow is man-made.