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Deep freeze, snow settle in across southern Alberta

Cold temperatures blast northern Alberta

Extreme cold warnings are in place for parts of central and southern Alberta and several highways are closed as winter settles in across the region.

Environment Canada says temperatures are expected to plunge overnight after a brief daytime high of around -18 C in Calgary.

Morning temperatures in the city were hovering around -27 C and many areas were digging out from under about 15 centimetres of snow.

The snowfall Friday night has caused some snowpacks in mountain areas to become unstable and several highways have been shut down due to the risk of an avalanche.

Highway 93 between Lake Louise and Jasper is closed, as is the Akamina Parkway through Waterton Lakes National Park.

Highway 742 south of the Canmore Nordic Centre towards Spray Valley Provincial Park was also closed Friday night due to an avalanche risk and remains closed Saturday while crews work to secure the snowpack.

Travel in the area is not recommended.

The following areas are affected by the extreme cold warning:

- Mountain View Co. near Carstairs and Stirlingville

- Mountain View Co. near Cremona and Water Valley

- Mountain View Co. near Olds and Didsbury

- Mountain View Co. near Sundre

- Rocky View Co. near Airdrie and Crossfield

- Rocky View Co. near Bottrel and Madden

- Rocky View Co. near Cochrane

- Kneehill Co. near Acme and Linden

- Kneehill Co. near Carbon

- Kneehill Co. near Three Hills

- Kneehill Co. near Torrington and Wimborne

- Kneehill Co. near Trochu and Huxley

- Rocky View Co. near Irricana Beiseker and Kathyrn

- S.A. 2 near Finnegan and Little Fish Lake Prov. Park

- Starland Co. near Michichi and Delia

- Starland Co. near Morrin and Munson

- Starland Co. near Rumsey and Rowley

- Town of Drumheller

- Wheatland Co. near Hwys 569 and 848

- Wheatland Co. near Rockyford and Rosebud

- Co. of Paintearth near Brownfield

- Co. of Paintearth near Castor and Fleet

- Co. of Paintearth near Coronation and Throne

- M.D. of Acadia including Acadia Valley

- M.D. of Provost near Bodo

- S.A. 2 near Cessford Wardlow and Pollockville

- S.A. 2 near Hanna and Richdale

- S.A. 2 near Spondin and Scapa

- S.A. 2 near Sunnynook

- S.A. 3 near Big Stone Cappon and Gold Spur

- S.A. 3 near Oyen and Cereal

- S.A. 3 near Sedalia and New Brigden

- S.A. 3 near Sibbald and Esther

- S.A. 3 near Youngstown

- S.A. 4 near Hemaruka Wiste and Monitor Creek

- S.A. 4 near Kirriemuir and Compeer

- S.A. 4 near Veteran and Consort

- Camrose Co. near Bashaw and Meeting Creek

- City of Red Deer

- Co. of Paintearth near Halkirk and Big Knife Prov. Park

- Co. of Stettler near Big Valley

- Co. of Stettler near Botha and Gadsby

- Co. of Stettler near Byemoor and Endiang

- Co. of Stettler near Donalda

- Co. of Stettler near Stettler Nevis and Rochon Sands

- Flagstaff Co. near Forestburg and Galahad

- Lacombe Co. near Clive Alix and Mirror

- Lacombe Co. near Eckville

- Lacombe Co. near Lacombe Blackfalds and Bentley

- Ponoka Co. near Ponoka and Maskwacis

- Red Deer Co. near Elnora Lousana and Delburne

- Red Deer Co. near Penhold Innisfail and Bowden

- Red Deer Co. near Pine Lake

- Red Deer Co. near Spruce View and Red Lodge Prov. Park

- Red Deer Co. near Sylvan Lake and Stephansson House