EDMONTON - Motorists in and around the Capital Region are experiencing white-out conditions as a snowfall blankets the area.
Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the City of Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Morinville, Mayerthorpe, Evansburg, Camrose, Wetaskiwin, and Tofield, which ended around 4p.m.
Between nine and 17 centimetres of snow fell in the capital region over the course of about two hours. The heavy band of snow has since moved southeast.
Spruce Grove and Stony Plain RCMP are advising travelers to use caution and avoid highways west and north of Edmonton, if possible.
They say conditions on Highway 43 north of Highway 16 are near white-out, and deteriorating.
The severe snow conditions forced St. Albert Transit to shut down all commuter routes returning from Edmonton at Village Transit Station in St. Albert. Regular service on all routes resumed shortly after 4:30, Wednesday afternoon.
Trucks have been called out to sand area highways, but visibility and road conditions are not helping the situation.
Morinville RCMP are warning motorists, as well, about icy road conditions and poor visibility on Sturgeon County roads.
RCMP officers have been called out to several incidents of cars sliding off the road and into ditches.
So far, no injuries have been reported. Morinville RCMP are asking drivers to avoid travel in the area until conditions improve, though.
Edmonton Police say between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, there were 85 property damage collisions and nine injury collisions reported citywide.
The snowfall has been also been affecting motorists in and south of Edmonton (you can follow the #yegtraffic and #abroads hashtags on Twitter for more updates).
Others were reminding motorists to use extreme caution, avoid tailgating, and drive with their lights on.
At around 1:30 p.m. the City of Edmonton tweeted that "plows & sanders have been dispatched to deal with accumulating snow on arterial roads, collector routes, hills, bridge decks." At midnight, graders will be brought in to help clear the accumulated snow in preparation for the morning commute.
The City will monitor road conditions, and will decide Thursday afternoon if a seasonal parking ban will be required. To sign up for parking ban e-mail notifications click here.
The Edmonton International Airport also tweeted that they are bringing in more staff to handle the snowfall "so operations are continuing but expect delays."
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