High winds, blowing snow, and horrible driving conditions in Pincher Creek area

Highway 6 earlier this evening
J. Davis photos, J. Davis/C.Davis/T.Lucas video

Christian Davis
updated at 2:40 am Sunday, November 22, 2015

Pincher Creek RCMP and Pincher Creek Emergency Services (PCES) responded to an incident on Highway 6 at approximately 8:30 pm this evening.  A tractor trailer lost control in extreme weather conditions on Highway 6 south of the Highway 3 intersection, and ended up blocking the southbound lane of Highway 6.  RCMP and PCES blocked off Highway 6 until the situation was resolved at approximately 10:20 pm.  Another incident involving a vehicle on Highway 3 that was apparently stuck in the ditch after leaving the highway was also observed.

Video: Weather conditions on Hwy 6, Hwy 3, and rural roads in Pincher Creek area earlier this evening

Highway 3 and Highway 6 remain in poor condition at the time this article was last updated, as are the rural roads in the Pincher Creek area.  Social media reports from area citizens indicate that Highway 22 north of Highway 3 is also in very poor condition at this time, as is Highway 3 from Fort Macleod through Crowsnest Pass.  Township Road (known as Airport Road) and gravel roads west of Pincher Creek are in very poor condition, with near whiteout conditions observed at approximately 10:00 pm (see video).

Highway 6 facing south at approximately 11:30 am November 21, 2015

Winds in the area were reported to be gusting between 65 and 77 km/hr but are diminishing at this time (near midnight November 21, 2015) to approximately 45 km/hr . The temperature is currently hovering around 0° Celsius in the area.

More details will be provided when available.