Update at 7:00AM (ET):
Calgary Airport (YYC) is open but showing significant delays and cancellations and the YYC.com website appears to be down.
Wednesday 17DEC 15:30 (ET)
A fast-moving winter storm has slammed southern Alberta, forcing Calgary International Airport to pause all flights as whiteout conditions made takeoffs and landings impossible. FlightAware data shows dozens of flights were delayed or held on the ground Tuesday afternoon, though cancellations remained limited as visibility is expected to improve later in the day.
In an email to CBC News, YYC spokesperson Mackenzie Murphy said "travellers can expect to still see residual impacts from the temporary stoppage, as well as from airports across the Prairies also managing the snow.
“We encourage passengers to check in with their airline for the most current status on their flight.”
Snow removal crews continue working to clear runways as blowing snow and strong winds reduce visibility across the airfield.
WestJet issued a statement saying the temporary suspension of flights would end at 2:30 p.m. local time. "It’s anticipated we’ll be back to operating with at least one runway," a WestJet spokesperson said in an email to CTV News.
Environment Canada had issued a yellow-level winter storm warning, citing blowing snow and wind gusts up to 100 km/h.
The Icefields Parkway remains closed between Jasper’s Valley of the Five Lakes and Lake Louise. Farther south, a wind warning remains in effect for Lethbridge, the Crowsnest Pass, Cardston and Coutts, where gusts could reach 130 km/h, raising the risk of power outages and dangerous travel conditions.
The Alberta clipper is now racing east, bringing heavy snow to the Prairies and northern Ontario before ushering in a blast of Arctic air.
Snow is expected to taper from northwest to southeast Alberta later today.
