PHOTOS: Heavy snow blankets parts of Alberta before the cold sets in
It was a snowy Friday for many in southern Alberta, especially in parts of Calgary. In fact, there was enough of the white stuff on the ground to set a new monthly record in the major city.
Calgary International Airport (YYC) picked up a whopping 33.6 cm on Jan. 27, surpassing the previous daily January record of 25.4 cm from Jan. 3, 1913. It was enough to make for a new monthly record and was the biggest daily snowfall total at the airport since May 6, 1981 (48.4 cm).
SEE ALSO: Overachieving squalls give Calgary its snowiest January day on record
Meanwhile, heavy snow made for slippery and hazardous conditions along Highway 2, with multiple backups reported. Luckily, drivers will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as road conditions improve over the weekend.
After some residual snow fell overnight Friday, a ridge of high pressure moved in Saturday morning to allow for improving conditions.
The high pressure will be bringing sunshine back to the province this weekend. However, the sun will provide little warmth as cold, Arctic air moves back into the region, bringing about temperatures similar to those felt in December.
Temperatures will plunge into the minus double digits across the province, along with a bitter wind chill that will surely make everyone want to bundle up. Those in the eastern half of the province will bear the brunt of this extreme cold through the next week.
Check out some of the photos and videos taken during Friday’s snowfall event, below.
A snow squall brings about the temporary erasure of the Calgary skyline this afternoon #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/x2wnZNz7Nk
A snow squall brings about the temporary erasure of the Calgary skyline this afternoon Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "A snow squall brings about the temporary erasure of the Calgary skyline this afternoon #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/x2wnZNz7Nk / Twitter" Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "A snow squall brings about the temporary erasure of the Calgary skyline this afternoon #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/x2wnZNz7Nk / Twitter" Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "A snow squall brings about the temporary erasure of the Calgary skyline this afternoon #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/x2wnZNz7Nk / Twitter"
— Kyle Brittain (@KyleBrittainWX) Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "A snow squall brings about the temporary erasure of the Calgary skyline this afternoon #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/x2wnZNz7Nk / Twitter"
Let it snow let it snow let it snow ❄️❄️#yyc #abstorm 12:30pm pic.twitter.com/rjfesnuXNk
Let it snow let it snow let it snow ❄️❄️Inam Jamil on Twitter: "Let it snow let it snow let it snow ❄️❄️#yyc #abstorm 12:30pm pic.twitter.com/rjfesnuXNk / Twitter" Inam Jamil on Twitter: "Let it snow let it snow let it snow ❄️❄️#yyc #abstorm 12:30pm pic.twitter.com/rjfesnuXNk / Twitter" 12:30pm Inam Jamil on Twitter: "Let it snow let it snow let it snow ❄️❄️#yyc #abstorm 12:30pm pic.twitter.com/rjfesnuXNk / Twitter"
— Inam Jamil (@yycwx_inam) Inam Jamil on Twitter: "Let it snow let it snow let it snow ❄️❄️#yyc #abstorm 12:30pm pic.twitter.com/rjfesnuXNk / Twitter"
Just a smidge of snow in #yyc right now. It may not be golf szn but it sure is pretty. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/vEhQiR5wCh
Just a smidge of snow in Andrew Cunningham on Twitter: "Just a smidge of snow in #yyc right now. It may not be golf szn but it sure is pretty. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/vEhQiR5wCh / Twitter" right now. It may not be golf szn but it sure is pretty. Andrew Cunningham on Twitter: "Just a smidge of snow in #yyc right now. It may not be golf szn but it sure is pretty. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/vEhQiR5wCh / Twitter" Andrew Cunningham on Twitter: "Just a smidge of snow in #yyc right now. It may not be golf szn but it sure is pretty. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/vEhQiR5wCh / Twitter"
— Andrew Cunningham (@idledmuse) Andrew Cunningham on Twitter: "Just a smidge of snow in #yyc right now. It may not be golf szn but it sure is pretty. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/vEhQiR5wCh / Twitter"
Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3
Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter" Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter" Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter" Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter" Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter" Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter"
— Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@Brad_In_YYC) Brad In YYC 🇨🇦🇨🇦 on Twitter: "Snow squall incoming to Calgary SW #abstorm #abwx #YYC @weathernetwork @HouckisPokisewx pic.twitter.com/iJ4XjVLAp3 / Twitter"
Wow! Snow is coming down hard now. Can barely see across the road. Drive safe y'all. #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rhr7M6OTda
Wow! Snow is coming down hard now.
Can barely see across the road.
Drive safe y’all. Anne 👀 on Twitter: "Wow! Snow is coming down hard now. Can barely see across the road. Drive safe y'all. #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rhr7M6OTda / Twitter" Anne 👀 on Twitter: "Wow! Snow is coming down hard now. Can barely see across the road. Drive safe y'all. #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rhr7M6OTda / Twitter" Anne 👀 on Twitter: "Wow! Snow is coming down hard now. Can barely see across the road. Drive safe y'all. #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rhr7M6OTda / Twitter"— Anne 👀 (@AnneWilkie52) Anne 👀 on Twitter: "Wow! Snow is coming down hard now. Can barely see across the road. Drive safe y'all. #yyc #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rhr7M6OTda / Twitter"
QE2 near Carstairs big problems pic via Pam Mulhall #abstorm #abroads pic.twitter.com/j8OZt7UNcS
QE2 near Carstairs big problems pic via Pam Mulhall Brandon Houck on Twitter: "QE2 near Carstairs big problems pic via Pam Mulhall #abstorm #abroads pic.twitter.com/j8OZt7UNcS / Twitter" Brandon Houck on Twitter: "QE2 near Carstairs big problems pic via Pam Mulhall #abstorm #abroads pic.twitter.com/j8OZt7UNcS / Twitter" Brandon Houck on Twitter: "QE2 near Carstairs big problems pic via Pam Mulhall #abstorm #abroads pic.twitter.com/j8OZt7UNcS / Twitter"
— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokisewx) Brandon Houck on Twitter: "QE2 near Carstairs big problems pic via Pam Mulhall #abstorm #abroads pic.twitter.com/j8OZt7UNcS / Twitter"
A+ frisbee weather #abstorm pic.twitter.com/GGlF3dErQQ
A+ frisbee weather clay on Twitter: "A+ frisbee weather #abstorm pic.twitter.com/GGlF3dErQQ / Twitter" clay on Twitter: "A+ frisbee weather #abstorm pic.twitter.com/GGlF3dErQQ / Twitter"
— clay (@Claytron8001) clay on Twitter: "A+ frisbee weather #abstorm pic.twitter.com/GGlF3dErQQ / Twitter"
South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3
South of Calgary coming North into the city on Bubs on Twitter: "South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3 / Twitter" earlier today
(Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can’t get up the icy hill.Bubs on Twitter: "South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3 / Twitter" Bubs on Twitter: "South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3 / Twitter" Bubs on Twitter: "South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3 / Twitter" Bubs on Twitter: "South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3 / Twitter" Bubs on Twitter: "South of Calgary coming North into the city on #Deerfoot earlier today (Photo credit is my neighbour). Apparently trucks can't get up the icy hill.#abroads #yycroads #yyctraffic #abstorm pic.twitter.com/3UFJBdx7W3 / Twitter"
Dumping snow in Calgary this afternoon. 2:34pm. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/PXlaagxjWc
Dumping snow in Calgary this afternoon. 2:34pm. Darren Howard on Twitter: "Dumping snow in Calgary this afternoon. 2:34pm. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/PXlaagxjWc / Twitter" Darren Howard on Twitter: "Dumping snow in Calgary this afternoon. 2:34pm. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/PXlaagxjWc / Twitter"
— Darren Howard (@lightningmanAB) Darren Howard on Twitter: "Dumping snow in Calgary this afternoon. 2:34pm. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/PXlaagxjWc / Twitter"
Thumbnail courtesy of Jonathan Lee Scholes/Twitter.
With files from Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network, and Nathan Howes, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.