Calgary hit with intense but brief spring snowstorm

Calgary was hit with a brief but intense spring snowstorm Friday morning that forced the cancellation of the POW! Parade of Wonders, which usually kicks off the annual Calgary Expo.

Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Calgary and areas to the north and west shortly after 10 a.m. Friday. It said 10 to 15 centimetres of snow wasexpected to fall before tapering off by the afternoon.

"Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Take frequent breaks and avoid strain when clearing snow."

The snowfall warning for all areas in the province was liftedby 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The storm prompted Calgary Expo organizers to cancel thePOW! Parade of Wonders, which was set to travel through the downtown on Friday.

The city saysall street sweeping scheduled for Friday has been cancelled because of the snowfall.

Friday's snowstorm is the second to hit Calgary this week. On Tuesday, the city sawits largest single-day snowfall of the year.Snowfall amounts varied throughout the city, from 15 centimetres to reports of up to 30 centimetres in Calgary's northwest.