Drivers in Rimbey, Alberta, should prepare for icy roads this weekend as a mix of rain and a rapid temperature drop moves through the area. Environment Canada is forecasting a 30% chance of rain Saturday night (Feb. 7, 2026), followed by a quick drop to about -9°C by Sunday night (Feb. 8), a change expected to turn wet surfaces into dangerous black ice on streets and sidewalks.
The sudden freeze follows a week of unseasonably warm conditions in central Alberta in early February (Feb. 4–6), when Environment Canada recorded several daytime temperature records. Because salt and salt-based mixes lose effectiveness as temperatures fall (sodium chloride/salt mixes are documented as most effective above roughly -6°C), crews will place more emphasis on abrasives to restore traction rather than relying on melting alone.
Mainroad Alberta Contracting LP – the provincial contractor responsible for highway maintenance in the Central Alberta contract area that includes the Rimbey corridor – typically uses sand/salt blends and other treated materials and will prioritize higher‑classification routes such as Highway 20 and Highway 53 for treatment and patrolling during this event.
Within town, Town of Rimbey public works follows Snow Removal Policy No. 3101, which gives priority to main thoroughfares and emergency routes so ambulances and fire trucks can travel safely. Residential side streets (Class 2/3 zones) are lower priority; residents on those streets should expect longer waits for sanding or sanding-truck service while crews secure the main arteries.
