Alberta clipper brings snow, cold to Hamilton

The snow has started to fall as an Alberta clipper weather system rolls through Hamilton. When its done, the city may have 5-10 centimetres of fresh snow on the ground.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement about the Alberta clipper, a fast-moving weather system that's racing across southern Ontario on Thursday dumping snow everywhere from the Muskoka region to areas south of Hamilton.

Snow is set to continue falling throughout the afternoon, something that will likely snarl the afternoon commute, Environment Canada says.

"Driving conditions will deteriorate after the snow arrives. Motorists should expect to deal with poor winter driving conditions as untreated roads will become snow covered and slippery," the statement said.

"Low visibility in snow and occasional blowing snow may also contribute to the poor winter driving conditions."

During the morning rush hour, the OPP tweeted a warning to drivers enjoying a relatively clear ride to work that the afternoon would be far different.

Go Transit has also suspended its Route16 Hamilton QEW Express bus to Union Station this afternoon, blaming bad weather and traffic conditions. Passengers should take the Lakeshore West train as an alternative route into downtown Toronto.

The City of Hamilton, meanwhile, pre-emptively declared a cold alert for Friday. The Alberta clipper, Environment Canada says, is dragging a mass of Arctic air behind it that will drop the temperature form -1 C the current temperature to -11 C.

Oddly enough, while the storm is called an Alberta clipper, it's sunny inCalgary with the temperature set to reach a high of7 C.