EDMONTON — A winter storm bringing in heavy snow and high winds walloped the Prairie provinces on Wednesday with treacherous conditions causing numerous crashes, flight delays and school closures.
Airports in Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg reported flight delays due to the storm.
The Calgary International Airport said the blizzard forced it to suspend some flights in the afternoon as it had to clear the runways.
On the roads, between 80 to 100 cars stopped on the highway between Calgary and its suburb of Airdrie.
RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said not all the vehicles were involved in a collision, but many couldn’t move after a semi-trailer was jackknifed. There were no reports of injuries.
The Mounties in Alberta were cautioning against all travel in the province due to whiteout conditions in some areas. There were multiple closures on parts of the Queen Elizabeth II highway that connects Calgary and Edmonton.
Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the storm started in British Columbia and was making its way east to Manitoba.
“It’s the big day (Thursday), mostly, for Manitoba,” Lang said. “Things will move in overnight and really intensify.”
In Saskatchewan, a school board in the Saskatoon area declared a snow day.
“Our concern is the ability of students and staff to get to and from school safely,” the Prairie Spirit School Board said about its decision to close schools Wednesday.
In other parts of the province, all Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League games were cancelled, Moose Jaw suspended transit service and Regina waste pickup was stopped for the day.
Lang said the heaviest snow path was between Edmonton and just south of Saskatoon to Regina.
“It’s certainly the strongest storm of the season so far,” she said.
Much of Saskatchewan was under blizzard and freezing-rain warnings. RCMP said it received 29 reports of weather-related calls for service by mid-afternoon.
“This includes collisions, ditched vehicles, and traffic hazards, such as vehicles pulled over on the side of the road due to reduced weather and road conditions,” the Mounties said in a statement.
“Saskatchewan RCMP remind the public that if travel is not essential, wait until road conditions along your route improve before driving.”
— with files from Bill Graveland in Calgary
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2025.
Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press
