Calgary warned to brace for 35 cm of snow as storm alerts blanket southern Alberta

Most of southern Alberta is now under a winter storm warning after Environment Canada upgraded several areas from storm watches on Wednesday morning.

In the Calgary area, the agency is forecasting 25 to 35 centimetres of snow while some areas in themountain parks and the Foothills could get as much as 50 cm.

The snowfall is expected to start on Wednesday and continue most of Thursday before gradually tapering off that evening.

EvenYouTubepersonalityFrankieMacDonaldgave the coming storm a mention this week on his broadcast.

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The snowroute parking ban that went into effect Monday in Calgary waslifted Wednesday at 7 a.m., but the city says drivers should be prepared as another parking ban could be issued with the coming snowfall.

The storm warnings stretch from Hinton and Whitecourt in the north to the Crowsnest Pass and Cypress Hills in the south, and from Drumheller in the east to Jasper, Banff and Kananaskis-Country in the west.

"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations," Environment Canada said on its website.

"Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions."

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