Snow storm ravages highway travel near Edmonton

Emergency responders at the scene of a vehicle collision on Highway 814 north of Highway 616 near Millet, Alta., during a snow storm on Jan. 16, 2025. (Credit: Millet Fire Dept.)

Jackknifed semi trailers are among the obstacles slowing traffic Thursday night on both Highway 16 at Anthony Henday Drive and Highway 2 south of Edmonton amid a snow storm.

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Edmonton police said in a media release eastbound lanes on Highway 16 are blocked by a jackknifed semi truck and ask drivers to find alternate routes.

Alberta RCMP confirmed several reports on Facebook of a jackknifed semi south of the vehicle weigh scales near Leduc, saying traffic is moving but slowly.

On Thursday evening, Alberta RCMP said in a media release road conditions in central Alberta “are extremely bad,” particularly in and around Leduc, Wetaskiwin, Camrose County, Maskwacis and Ponoka amid “severe” wind and whiteout conditions. Police said visibility is zero in several locations.

Cpl. Gina Slaney told CTV News Edmonton two RCMP cruisers are in the ditch on Highway 2 near Maskwacis.

Social media reports in the early evening said there are whiteout conditions on several roads such as Highway 2A between Leduc and Wetaskiwin, Highway 814 east of Millet, between Camrose and Edmonton, and on Highway 12 west of Gadsby.

The Millet Fire Dept. said in a Facebook post that highways in the area are “treacherous” with “near zero visibility,” describing the scene of a vehicle collision on Highway 814 north of Highway 616 amid high winds and blowing snow “almost too much for our responders to be standing in” while working.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a blowing snow advisory for Edmonton and area on Wednesday mid-afternoon as well as for the Red Deer, Lloydminster and Coronation regions and Edson/Whitecourt/Athabasca south.

According to CTV News Edmonton meteorologist Josh Classen, the weather radar indicated the storm could greatly affect areas north and northeast of Edmonton.

At 9 p.m. on Thursday night, travel was not recommended on several raods north, south and east of Edmonton, according to the province’s 511 Alberta website, which monitors road conditions.

Those roads include portions of Highway 2 between St. Albert north past Island Lake, Highway 16 from Ardrossan to Lloydminster, Highway 14 east of the Cooking Lakes to Jarrow, Highway 41 north of Vermillion to LaCorey, Highway 28 north of Gibbons east to Cold Lake, Highway 36 south of Lac La Biche, Highway 55 from Athabasca west to Cold Lake, and Highway 45 from near Bruderheim west to the Saskatchewan border.

Thursday night’s forecast in Edmonton calls for snow, blowing snow to diminish or end around midnight.

Parts of Saskatchewan east of the Alberta border are also under a blowing snow advisory on Thursday night, including North Battleford and Saskatoon.