Edmonton police are urging drivers to exercise caution during the Thursday morning commute as bone-chilling temperatures return to the region, wreaking havoc on local roads.
Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for Edmonton and surrounding areas, and the Thursday morning commute was slick.
Slippery conditions and black ice were to blame for numerous fender benders across the city.
'Slow down, drive for the road conditions'
Edmonton police confirm, there were at least two major multi-vehicle collisions early Thursday. Both calls came in around 7 a.m.
Emergency crews were called to a 5-vehicle crash on Whitemud Drive, just east of 111 Street.
Police were also called to 6-vehicle smash-up southbound on Groat Road, near 105 Avenue. A vehicle lost control on the ice, spun around, and collided head on with other vehicles on the road, police said. Only minor injuries were reported.
Another multi-vehicle crash was reported at the Quesnell Bridge around 7:30 a.m.
Between 6 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., police responded to two collisions where injuries were reported, Edmonton police confirmed in a news release. There were also 34 property damage collisions during the same time frame, police said.
"As the morning commute on icy and snow covered roads continues, motorists are reminded to slow down, drive for the road conditions and allow themselves extra time to reach their destination," police said in the news release.
An Arctic air mass moving across the Prairies has put much of the province into a deep freeze.
An area stretching from Wood Buffalo in the north to Waterton National Park in the south are under an extreme cold advisory.
The cold weather is expected to stick around for a few days, with temperatures hovering around — 40 with the wind chill until the weekend.
Due to the extreme cold temperatures on Thursday morning, the Greater St. Albert Catholic has cancelled all Legal buses in the area. All buses for our District in Morinville and St. Albert will be running.
Children attending Elk Island Public Schools are also dealing with cancellations.
A spokesperson for the school district said buses will be cancelled on Jan. 11 due to extremely cold temperatures. The schools will remain open with regular classes Thursday for students who can brave the cold weather.
Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frostbite and hypothermia.
"Extreme cold puts everyone at risk," said Environment Canada.
Albertans braving the cold are advised to watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes
"Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill."
