Early season storm freezes Lac La Biche region

Rob McKinley Mar 29, 2021 3:40 PM
Did you MISS winter? A section of the iron gates at the Lac La Biche Mission Cemetery is plastered with snow from the weekend's early spring storm that hit the Lakeland region.▲
Buses weren't running on Monday thanks to Mother Nature teaching own lessons on weather changes. Image Rob McKinley▲
A member of the region’s Fortis crew returns to the Lac La Biche area on Monday morning, the transmission maintenance staff were busy over the weekend with power outages and line issues across the Lakeland, including a massive power outage in the St. Paul region. ▲
A pickup truck can be seen navigating the icy and windblown Mission Road through the blossoming tree logo on the iron gates of the Lac La Biche Mission Cemetery during Monday's blizzard. ▲
Camping registrations opened almost a month ago ... but the weekend's snowstorm might make summer camping season seem like a distant hope. ▲
The flags are at full attention at the Lac La Biche Mission Historical Site. The lakeside national and provincial historic site sits broadside to northern winds like the ones experienced over the weekend. ▲
Main Street Lac La Biche with a "bit of wind" coming of the lake on Monday morning. Image Rob McKinley▲
We call this one: "White truck in whiteout on Lac La Biche lake shoreline"▲
A bundled-up pedestrian crosses Lac La Biche's Main Street, reminding others that Mother Nature doesn't intend to let us put away our winter gear just yet.▲
Winter still had something hiding around the corner for much of the Lakeland and northern Alberta, it seems. Predicted by weather officials days in advance, a winter storm warning hit the region overnight Sunday and continued to blast over the region with strong winds, blowing snow and some sleet. This photo from Monday morning shows a vehicle on Lac La Bcihe County’s Mission Road, passing the historic site with all of its flags stretched out from the wind. Check www.lakelandtoday.ca for links to the week’s weather forecast.▲
For those who think the winter weather is garbage ... this is a garbage truck. ▲
One of several area residents who offer their services for clearing snow makes his way towards a local restaurant on Monday morning, perhaps for a hot drink.▲
A county plow truck rides up a bleak-looking Beaverhill Road▲
The wintery blast didn't stop worklife from happening in the busy northeast. Here a transport driver works on removing new vehicles delivered through the blizzard to a local car dealership.▲
Municipal and provincial crews were busy with graders, plows and sanding trucks in what is (hopefully) winter's last gasp.▲
Whiteout snow conditions around many areas of the Lakeland slowed down spring plans.▲
Stop winter. Stop.▲

Just a week ago, it came in like a lamb ... warming temperatures, melting ice, the promise of a short-sleeved Easter .... but a week afer the March 20 welcome of Spring ... the lion took over.  A white lion with a howling roar.  

Freezing rain, blowing snow, and howling winds hit the Lakeland on Sunday night, the bast coming just days after a weather warnings were issued. Trade your rubber boots for winter boots, your short-sleeved shirts for parkas and perhaps hold onto those winter tires for just a little longer, was the message received by gale-force winds and snow.

The storm continued its barrage into Monday, and is a reminder that the word "seasons' is only a suggestion in this part of the world.

For those who forget that Alberta's best weather advice is: "If you don't like the weather right now, wait five minutes", we've put a few photos together showing just how quickly it can change.

Enjoy ... not really.

 

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