High winds make for tough highway commute in Alberta
Posted October 25, 2019 1:09 pm.
Last Updated October 25, 2019 5:13 pm.
ALBERTA (660 NEWS) — Mounties south of Calgary say the high winds Friday afternoon are leading to an extreme driving hazard.
Nanton RCMP say Highway 22 and Highway 2 are experiencing wind gusts approaching 150 kilometres an hour.
511 Alberta reports an overturned vehicle along Highway 22 near Longview just before noon Friday, leading to only one lane of traffic getting through.
Hwy22 near Longview, one lane alt-traffic in effect due to an overturned vehicle. Tow Trucks are on the scene. Expect traffic congestion in the area. Drive with caution. (11:57am) #ABRoads
— 511 Alberta (@511Alberta) October 25, 2019
Environment Canada has a wind warning out for the Okotoks, High River, Kananaskis, Canmore areas, down to Cardston and Crowsnest Pass, with gusts topping 100 kilometres an hour before easing off later Friday afternoon.
Vehicles not the only thing at risk, the high wind has also fueled two grass fires, one to the North of the city and the other to the south.
In Foothills County six houses near High River had to be evacuated with a number more at risk.
Rockyview County seen a grass fire grow near a farm where it even jumped the road in a couple of spots on Highway 567.
Another shot before I left, the wind an issue but the dust flare ups seemed to be another big issue in the area.
Poor visibility on Highway 567. pic.twitter.com/ANwCEz1iP1
— Ryan Running Rabbit (@RyanFerrisRR) October 25, 2019
For a short period of time this fire also closed the road.
In some areas the wind also kicking up a lot of dust making for poor visibility on highways.