CHAT News File Photo

By Lisa Parent

Residents prepare after snowfall advisory hits Medicine Hat

Oct 23, 2023 | 4:37 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Some Hatters may be clinging to the last remnants of temperate weather, while others are embracing the snows arrival with open arms.

A snowfall advisory was issued today, with the daytime temperature hovering around 1°C.

“Today I knew I was going to be doing this volunteer work, so I actually have my long underwear on and I have extra layering,” says one Hatter, volunteering outside today. “This is my down coat so I can unzip the layers if I get too hot at some point and I’ve got my gloves and I do have a hat in the car.”

Waking up the rest of this week, you may find some frost on your windows, as temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until Sunday. Medicine Hat residents are ready for that too.

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“The scraper will come out, I’ll get the jumper cables out too, just in case something goes really wrong in the next couple of days. And winter tires, I’ve actually just got all season, so I’ve never changed those. That’s probably not the best, safest thing, but that’s what’s happening,” says one Hatter.

Another says, “we have snow scrapers in the car, brushes, we carry a blanket in the back trunk.”

However, residents aren’t the only ones prepping for the lower temparatures. Trevor Funk, the acting operations manager for the City of Medicine Hat, says they’ve been busy.

“We’re watching the weather pretty constantly,” explains Funk. “The biggest thing is really getting our guys refreshed on the winter activities, so we had our winter refreshers last week,.”

When the snowplows do hit the streets, Funk wants to remind motorists to be careful when passing or following the working vehicles.

“Our guys are really good operators and they are paying attention to what’s around them, but giving them that extra space makes them feel comfortable to do their job efficiently and effective and it keeps everybody safe,” Funk says.

While it’s still technically Autumn, the snow is a sign of one thing, that winter is coming.

“I was born here, so I’m trained in this kind of weather, but I think that the sun, the crunchy snow, I look forward to it actually,” says a resident.

“I love having our seasons, I love the winter,” says another.

Environment Canada warns that surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways, and parking lots may become slippery and difficult to navigate. Drivers are asked to adjust their driving behaviours accordingly.