Alberta to get hit with 'heavy snow' and freezing rain

If you didn't get your winter tires on last week, now is most definitely the time.

A large swath of north and central Alberta,including Edmonton and areas just north of Calgary, are going to be hit hard by snow and freezing rain Thursday nightand Friday morning.

As muchas15 centimetresis expected inareas now under a heavy snowfall warningincludingBonnyville, St. Paul, Cold Lake and Lac LaBiche.

Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Redwater and Smoky Lake are also under a heavy snowfall warning.

Environment Canada has issued awinter storm warning forLeduc, Camrose, Wetaskiwin, Tofield, Lloydminster, Wainwright, Vermilion and Provost. Those areas are expecting snowfall amounts from 10 to 15 centimetres along with freezing rain and ice pellets. The worst weather is expected to arriveFriday morning.

Anarea of snow will develop in the Peace Country this afternoon, moving eastward into Saskatchewan by evening.It will dump 2-5 centimetres of snow in areasnorth of Edmonton.

Environment Canada warns communities south of Edmonton that freezing rain will move intothe Rocky Mountain House and Airdrieregionsand will "intensify" as it makes it way to Lloydminster.

If you snap any pictures of the incoming winter wonderland please send them toWebEdmonton@cbc.ca.