Windy day in Calgary expected as wind warnings blanket southern Alberta

The high winds that have been whipping up southern Alberta are expected to blowfurther north Friday morning, prompting Environment Canada to issue wind warnings for Calgary and all southern parts of the province.

The southwestern Foothills will be hardest hit, with gusts as strong as 120 km/h expected, the weather agency said in advisory.

Wind gustsup to 90 km/hare expected to blow through Calgary starting in the late morning. The high winds are expected toweaken later in the afternoon.

Environment Canada said the winds will continue to move eastward toward the Saskatchewan border, with gusts as high as 100 km/h anticipated.

The wind is expected to die down in southern Alberta early Friday evening.

Wind warnings are in place for areas of:

• City of Calgary
• Airdrie - Cochrane - Olds - Sundre
• Brooks - Strathmore - Vulcan
• Cardston - Fort Macleod - Magrath
• Cypress Hills Provincial Park - Foremost
• Lethbridge - Taber - Milk River
• Medicine Hat - Bow Island - Suffield
• Okotoks - High River - Claresholm

Wind warnings that were in place for the areas of Kananaskis/Canmore and CrowsnestPass/Pincher Creek/WatertonLakes National Park were cancelled by late morning on Friday.

Wind warning are issued when winds are potentially strong enough to cause damage.

As of 6 a.m., winter storm warning are also in place for Banff and Jasper national parks. The weather system that is bringing between 40 to 60 centimetres of snow to the regions continues.

Environment Canada said 37 centimetres of snow have been reported in Lake Louise as of Thursday afternoon.

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