Temperature dip expected, snow exciting Edmonton ski clubs

It’s beginning to look like a winter wonderland in parts of YEG.

“This is sort of like the start of the excitement,” said Tim Dea, with Snow Valley Ski Club.

Dea says the snow blowers have been working since last week trying to add up the centimetres for skiers and snowboarders.

The snow blowers are using 8-9 million gallons of water this week just to get enough snow along Snow Valley’s runs. Everything else Mother Nature gives this week and in the future helps even more.

Dea says Snow Valley is eyeing an opening date for next week.

“If you’re heading up to the mountains and want to get lessons, this is the place to come,” said Dea.

The weather is expected to get even colder and snowy the rest of this week, Environment Canada says Edmonton can expect at least five to eight centimetres of snow by next Monday and below -15C some nights.  

Edmontonians at Buena Vista Dog Park say bring it on.

“I love it for the garden, he (dog) loves it because he cools down in it,” said one Edmontonian.

Another adding, “I’m used to it, you live in Edmonton you gotta get used to the snow. And they (dogs) love the snow. So all they need is a pair of boots and they’re good to go.”

Justin Shelley, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada says the incoming snow means we could be in for a snowy end to fall.

“It’s certainly an abrupt change to earlier this month and even if we think back to last November only two days of the entire month failed to get above freezing,” Shelley explained.

That means skiers and snowboarders should start getting their wax on now so they’re ready to shred at any moment.

“The cold is the biggest marker that makes us go forward. Natural snow just makes everyone hope we open sooner,” said Dea.