Environment Canada has issued winter storm warnings and wind warnings for several areas across the Mountain Parks region leading into the weekend. Winter storm warnings cover the Icefields Parkway (HWY 93N) from Lake Louise to Jasper. Snowfall along the Parkway is expected be 15-25 cm and will be accompanied by winds of up to 70 km/h. Conditions are expected to improve as we head into Sunday. The avalanche forecast will move from Moderate into Considerable for the alpine for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay.
With this same system wind warnings have been issued for many areas along the front ranges including Nordegg, Canmore and Kananaskis. These winds are expected to develop overnight Friday and could hit gusts as high as 100 km/h in wind prone areas. As of Friday morning wind gusts at Nakiska Ridgetop had already exceed 90 km/h. The extended forecast into next week shows a return of cold temperatures for the region with overnight lows into the -20's across the Bow Valley.
