Drivers should stay off Sturgeon County roads today due to dangerous blowing snow, say police.
Alberta RCMP issued a notice at about 9 a.m. Jan. 31 advising drivers to stay off highways and roads in north, central, and eastern Alberta due to weather.
The St. Albert and Sturgeon County region was under a blowing snow advisory that morning as snowfall and wind gusts of up to 80 km/h created poor visibility. RCMP warned of icy, blizzard conditions on roads throughout the Edmonton region and along Hwy. 2 from Ponoka to St. Albert, and reported multiple collisions near Morinville, Redwater, Vegreville, as well as white-out conditions near Hanna.
Sgt. Lew Simms of the Morinville RCMP said he saw about 10 cars in the ditch as he drove from St. Albert to Morinville along Hwy. 2 that morning. No injuries had been reported as of 10:45 a.m., but the tow trucks had been very busy hauling cars out of snowbanks.
Simms said the blowing snow was creating white-out conditions on many roads, which he suspected had caused drivers to lose control of their vehicles. He asked drivers to slow down and drive to the road conditions.
“If you don’t have to travel, it’s probably best to stay off the roads.”
Check 511 Alberta for updates on road conditions.
