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By Gates Guarin

Snow to start Wednesday

Environment Canada forecasts cold, snowy winter ahead

Nov 1, 2022 | 4:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Brace yourselves, Medicine Hat: winter is coming.

A summer and fall filled with record-breaking temperatures is over as we know it, and snow and colder weather is forecast to take its place this week. Kyle Fougere, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says a slow-moving low-pressure system is making its way from Montana, which could result in heavier snow in parts of southern Alberta.

“So, unfortunately, we are seeing quite a drastic change at the start of November here compared to what we did see in October, where we’ve got some cold air that has flooded down through the province,” Fougere says.

Precipitation is already being seen throughout parts of southern Alberta. Because the system is so slow-moving, precipitation for Medicine Hat will develop this evening and strengthen overnight. Fougere says the city won’t be as impacted as areas like Calgary and the west, but as of 4 p.m. today, Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Medicine Hat area, meaning we can anticipate anywhere from 10 to 30 cm of snow.

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Fougere says this time of year brings a lot of uncertainty, with typical highs and lows hovering around 3 and -5 C.

“It’s not uncommon to see really strong temperature gradients across the province at this time of year and fall tends to have a lot of variability in the province,” Fougere says. “So you can go from these temperatures above normal to well below normal very quickly, just depending on where that cold air is and where it shifts around the province.”

These rapid changes in temperature cause different conditions to occur here than in other parts of the province.

This means drivers should be preparing for the upcoming snowfall, especially if there are long commutes involved.

“[w]e are booked as far as the building can physically hold for cars…” _{-Gary Doktor, Sales Representative}

Gary Doktor, sales representative for Kal Tire off of Box Springs Boulevard, says drivers should be aware of the types of tires they buy, because of those variable conditions.

“Studded tires will actually matter down in Medicine Hat more than they’ll matter in places like Calgary and Edmonton because studded tires fight ice, they don’t do a thing for snow.”

Doktor adds to not underrate winter tires, as the worst ones will outperform the best all-season winter tires, full stop.

Appointments to change over to winter tires have already swamped the business.

“The word is hectic, the word is always going to be hectic. Our crews are doing a really good job of it, but we are booked as far as the building can physically hold for cars,” Doktor says.

The city has been preparing for the first snowfall for weeks now, and have been anticipating this time of year.

“We want to be out in front, we never want to be caught waiting or reacting,” says Jeremy Petryshyn, manager of surface assets for the City of Medicine Hat. “So we have a good planning process.”

Hatters should do their best to prepare not just this week, but beyond. Doktor says to think about getting winter tires sooner rather than later.

“Pick up the phone, pick up the phone right now, right this second. You are already behind 500 people at this shop alone that have done it. If you wait until the last minute, you will not get in.”

Getting ahead of winter preparedness will pay off in the long run, because Fougere says if the pattern forecast for the winter months holds up, we could be in for a cold, snowy season.