'It's headed your way': Powerful winter storm bound for Edmonton

A powerful winter storm will bring heavy snowfall and battering winds to most of Alberta Friday morning.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for the capital regionand a large swath of the provinceas a powerful system moves in from the West Coast.

Snow is expected to start Thursday and continue until Sunday as the system moves slowly east.

Up to 20 centimetres of snow is expected to fall within a 48-hour period.

It's going to be a nasty weekend, said Environment Canada meteorologist David Phillips.

'An unwanted house guest'

"This storm has come in from the west, over the Pacific," Phillips said in an interview Friday with CBC Radio's Edmonton AM.

"It's got lots of energy.It's a sprawling system but it's also a labouring system. It's very slow moving so it has more time to spread its misery.

"Instead of hitting and running, it's going be hitting and staying, not unlike an unwanted house guest."

• Winter storm could bring up to 25 cm of snow to Edmonton region

Winter storm warnings remain in effect for regions including Grande Prairie, Barrhead,Red Deer, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Brooks and Okotoks, with snowfall warnings for Rocky Mountain House, Kananaskis and Crowsnest Pass.

Along with the snow, there will be strong easterly winds which will generate blinding blowing snow, especially over exposed stretches of highway.

• Albertanscautioned to postpone non-essential travel as winter storm sweeps into province

Drivers are being told to avoid all non-essential travel as visibility couldsuddenlybe reduced to zero in the battering winds.

Phillips expects the storm will hit the Edmonton region by mid-morning Friday. Drivers shouldn't venture out if they can avoid it, he said.

"It's going to be a long, drawn-out system," said Phillips. "You're not going to miss it. It's just been delayed upon arrival in Edmonton.

"It's sort of on the outskirts, headed your way."

Winter storm warnings are issued when at least two types of severe winter weather are expected to occur together.