Planes, trains, and automobiles — they’re all having issues Tuesday due to bitter winter weather.
As of 7:30 a.m., WestJet flights to Fort McMurray, Cancun, and Vancouver out of YYC International Airport had been cancelled, while departures to Phoenix, Nanaimo, and Vancouver had been delayed.
A WestJet representative says the airline is experiencing “significant operational delays” due to extreme winter weather, which is prompting the need for increased unscheduled maintenance.
“We are working to return aircraft to service as quickly and safely as possible in tandem with proactive flight cancellations to improve our network stability and reduce additional flight delays,” the spokesperson said. “We realize the situation is frustrating for both impacted guests and WestJetters, and we apologize.”
Calgary Transit also reported around 6:30 a.m. that areas of the Blue Line and the Red Line were running behind schedule due to mechanical issues. It’s unknown if the issues were related to the cold.
Routes were reported to be back to normal a short time later.
Area roads are also coping with the recent snowfall and accumulating ice, making for a slow and slippery commute.
There were several hundred crashes reported across Calgary Monday, with more than a dozen involving injuries.
Environment Canada is forecasting a high of -21 C for Tuesday, although it will feel closer to -34 C with the windchill. There is also a risk of frostbite.
The cold will continue Wednesday, with a forecasted high of -21 and a wind chill of -39 C in the morning and -28 C in the afternoon. Again, there is a risk of frostbite.
Thursday will see a high of -9 C and a low of -20 C, while the forecast for Friday predicts a high of -13 C and a low of -16 C.
For the latest in traffic, weather, and news, listen to 660 News Radio for updates every 10 minutes.