Residents in Beaumont, Alberta, should prepare for dangerous driving conditions starting the night of January 19, 2026, as high winds and blowing snow move into the area. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), northwest winds are expected to pick up near midnight, gusting to around 70 km/h and could produce local blowing snow and brief whiteout conditions on local roads.
While only a small amount of snow is expected to fall, the strong winds will blow existing snow across open areas and highways. Beaumont sits on a local high point, which can make it more exposed to strong gusts and drifting snow than more sheltered nearby areas — conditions that could make visibility drop to near zero very quickly on busy routes such as Highway 814 (50 Street).
City staff say they monitor forecasts and — per the City of Beaumont’s Snow and Ice Control Policy — will deploy crews and prioritize major roads and emergency routes when thresholds (such as 5 cm of snowfall or significant drifting) are met. Per the city’s priority levels, maintenance crews give precedence to arterials such as 50 Street (Highway 814) and 50 Avenue, along with emergency routes and other Priority 1 corridors to keep traffic moving as wind-driven drifts form.
Residents can stay informed by signing up for the city’s “Notify Me” civic alerts to receive updates on snow clearing progress. For broader safety warnings across the region, people should also monitor the Alberta Emergency Alert system throughout the night and into the morning of January 20.
