Winter is perfect for a nice, long drive, but it gets really tough in Calgary due to the harsh weather. That’s because the city sits right by the Rocky Mountains. This is otherwise a warmer place than the other cities in eastern Alberta, but winters can be bitterly cold. Snow is a common occurrence in the city. It has been seen that Calgary approximately experiences >1 cm snow 88 days in a year. When you go out from December to March, make sure to be super careful on the road. It’s a good idea to have the number of a Tow Truck Service ready, just in case, to be extra safe.
Road Conditions in the winters in Calgary
In winter, Calgary faces some seriously troublesome road conditions due to snowfall, ice, and wind. Here are the adverse conditions you may expect to face in Calgary roads during winter:
• Erratic temperature
Calgary weather is notoriously unpredictable. This makes it impossible for the Met Department to accurately gauge the day’s weather. In winter, this becomes especially troublesome; Calgary experiences warm Chinook winds, which can raise the temperatures by up to 30°. While this can be a welcome relief from the unforgiving Albertan cold, the ice buildup quickly starts to melt, turning to slush. This makes it difficult to know which roads are safe to drive on and which aren’t.
• Freezing rain
This is not a very common occurrence in Calgary, although it might happen. Calgary experiences most of its rain during the summers, but if you do happen to get caught in a spell in the winter, it will be freezing rain. This causes the rain to deposit as ice on the streets, adding to driving hazards.
• Snow
Needless to say, this is the main issue of driving in Calgary in the winter. Since the city experiences a good amount of snowfall in addition to unpredictable weather, driving conditions can become extremely hazardous. Stuck cars might occur from thick snow accumulations. Road conditions can become quite uneven when there is a sudden increase in temperature because the snow might melt and turn into slush. Roads get slick and driving becomes dangerous when snow falls suddenly. This generally leads to a spike in road accidents. In between February 3 and 4, 2024, the Calgary police reported 91 crashes, 12 of which involved minor injuries.
• Ice
Thanks to the snowfall and sporadic below freezing temperatures, Calgary roads often get covered by sheets of ice. This can make roads very slippery, even with a thin layer. A particular hazard is black ice, which is difficult to see and causes vehicles to skid across its stretch.
• Low light
Like in any other place around the world, Calgary receives shorter periods of sunlight during the winter. This results in significantly lower visibility, and it becomes difficult to spot road obstructions. It’s best to finish errands while there is light out; if that is absolutely not possible, you should make sure your lights are on. If conducting an overnight journey, make a note of rest stops beforehand for emergencies.
• Snowy winds
As we mentioned before, Calgary receives a good amount of snow. Plus, it’s a fairly windy city. In case of high winds, there’s a huge chance of snow being blown across the roads. This seriously impedes visibility, especially toward the afternoons.
• Blockades
Apart from snow buildup, roads in Calgary can be blocked off due to accidents and snow removal methods. The city of Calgary diligently attempts to remove snow to clear the roads, but the areas might be blocked off from drivers for the duration of the efforts. The number of accidents is very high due to slippery roads. This in the end causes delays and roadblocks until the area is cleared.
Tips to Prepare Your Car for a Safe Winter Drive in Calgary
Let us discuss how we can prepare ourselves for the unexpected. And this is necessary; it was a disastrous start to one of the snowiest winters in the previous century when the 2023 snow season in Calgary began with a record 75 accidents in October of 23.
1. Get all the necessary information
In Calgary winters, this is the first step before leaving your house. You must always make sure you have all the information about the route you are going to travel, regardless of how far or how close you are driving.
- Chalk out the shortest and safest route in the map before venturing out.
- Check out weather reports carefully, not just in your area, but your destination as well.
- Make sure there’s a plan B: an alternate route, a different day. Worsening weather conditions should keep you indoors.
2. Install Winter Tires
Winter tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and ice. These tires are great for improving the grip of your vehicle. They are essential for safe winter driving in Calgary. Without winter tires, your car runs the high risk of skidding on ice. Make sure that the tires are installed in all four wheels.
3. Check Your Vehicle’s Battery
Batteries tend to die very quickly in the cold. Make sure your battery is well charged before leaving the house because of this. The car’s battery will discharge more quickly than it would in the summer, so you should be ready for that. But you don’t have to freak out if the battery does run out. Simply call a towing service nearby, and they will give your car a battery boost to get you going.
4. Keep Your Gas Tank Full
Keeping the tank at least halfway full guarantees you will have adequate supply in case you get delayed in traffic or while driving. This will also prevent the fuel line from freezing. Hypothermia could potentially strike if you run out of gas during the winter and become stuck.
5. Free Your Car of Ice and Snow
In order to maintain visibility and shield other drivers from danger, clean all snow and ice from your car. Make sure to clear the windows, mirrors, lights, and roof. Ignoring this could cause accidents and decreased visibility.
6. Drive Slowly and Cautiously
Getting your car out on icy or snowy roads is rather dangerous. Slow down and extend your following distance to give yourself more time to stop. It is not advisable to accelerate or brake suddenly. Not driving carefully increases the chances of accidents.
7. Brake Carefully
Make sure you halt your car gently to avoid skidding.
- If your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal.
- If you don’t have ABS, pump the brakes gently.
Failure to brake carefully will result in skidding and losing control of your vehicle.
8. Use Your Lights
Turn on your headlights to improve your visibility if there is snow or darkness outside. Even turn on the fog lights if you have them. Collisions can occur more frequently when you don’t utilize your lights since it can be harder for other drivers to see you.
9. Avoid Cruise Control
Keep complete control of your car when driving in the winter. Stay away from utilizing cruise control as driving on icy roads increases the risk of the vehicle losing grip and sliding. This might obviously result in collisions.
10. Be Prepared
Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle. The following should be with you every time you drive in snowy Calgary:
- Flashlight
- Blankets
- Food
- Water
- a shovel
- first aid kit
These will come in immensely handy in case you get stuck. Being stranded can be out of your hand even if you take all the necessary precautions, but having the means for survival is a must.
Importance of Keeping Towing Numbers on Hand
The roads in Calgary in the winters can be very hazardous. As we discussed before in this post, accidents spike in number during the winter months. Should you find yourself in such a position, you should be prepared. How? Well, apart from having an emergency kit in the vehicle, your phone book should also have the numbers of towing services.
Look up the area you are visiting, and jot down the numbers of some reliable car towing companies. You don’t know what situation is waiting for you in the roads, so it’s best to have those numbers handy. A reliable towing company will get to you as fast as possible. Not only will your vehicle get moving, if possible, you will also receive some relief from the cold.
