Stettler and the rest of Alberta were hit with another premature snowstorm Monday and Tuesday.
The Weather Network warned that 20-plus centimetres of snow was reported in the Stettler area and that blizzard conditions persisted Tuesday.
Calgary and Edmonton received 10 to 15 centimetres, while Red Deer got at least 20 in an early winter blast.
Sgt. Duncan Babchuk of the Stettler RCMP said Tuesday that road conditions are treacherous and that most school buses weren’t running.
William E. Hay Composite High School principal Norbert Baharally said the buses don’t run in temperatures of -40 degrees, with the wind chill. If that’s the case overnight, buses might not run for the next few days.
Vice-principal Kate Syson estimated that 100 students managed to make it to the high school, out of 530.
Sgt. Babchuk also reported that there have been minor fender-benders, and the RCMP responded to a car that hit a power pole on Range Road 17-5.
The driver didn’t stay with his vehicle, but he was later located and found to be OK, Sgt. Babchuk said.
“People aren’t getting out here. We haven’t had as much traffic reported as we normally do.”
Police advise residents to make sure their vehicles are in good condition and to carry an emergency kit.
“A T-shirt and light jacket are not adequate for these weather conditions,” said Sgt. Babchuk, who added that if anyone gets stuck in snow, they might be there for a while, so dress warmly.
The Town of Stettler said on its Facebook page Tuesday that it hoped to have “Priority 1 streets” cleared that day. That area includes 46, 57, and 71 streets, among others, as well as 44, 47, and 50 avenues.
The downtown area was scheduled to be cleared as early as this morning. The town’s bulletin also said that it can take up to about two weeks to clear the streets of snow. The snowfall is expected to diminish the rest of the week, though temperatures are slated to remain between -25 and -31, with the wind chill.