Just what we needed: Spring snowstorm to blast parts of Alberta Tuesday night

If you already slid your snow shovel into storage and rolled your winter tires into the garage, you moved too fast.

The spring season is well underway but Alberta will soon get walloped with some decidedly wintry weather.

A mid-spring snowstorm is expected to hit parts of the province Tuesday evening. Driversare being told to brace for poor conditions on local roads and highways.

Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings forareasstretching from Hinton in the west to Lloydminster in the east.

In Edmonton, heavy snowfall is expected overnight. Between 10 centimetresto 15 centimetresis expected to accumulate in the city and surrounding areas before Wednesday morning.

Areas to the west, including Grande Cache and Nordegg, could see as much as 20 centimetresovernight.

Environment Canada says snow mixed with rain will begin Tuesday morning and continue through afternoon before switching to snow into the evening as temperatures cool.

Drivers are advised to be prepared for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions and reduced visibility on roads and highways.

The snowfallis expected to end by Wednesday morning.

Calgary region

Environment Canada also issued a snowfall warning for the City of Calgary and several other areas in the southern part of the province Tuesday.

Heavy snowfall with total accumulations of 15 to 25 centimetresis expected Tuesday evening, in areas including Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane.

Visibility could be reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow.

The Calgary International Airport said the weather system is impacting flight operations at the airport, as some flights are delayed.

Wind warnings for southwest Alberta

In addition to the snowfall warning, Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for theCrowsnest Pass-Pincher Creek-Waterton Lakes National Park andCardston-Fort Macleod-Magrath areas of southwestern Alberta.

Strong winds gusting to 100 kilometres per hour are possible Tuesday in those areas.

The warnings say that loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. Drivers should beprepared to adjust to changingroad conditions.