04/24/2026
Stay safe, Fort McMurray.
Afternoon update 4pm:
Highway 63 and 881 are both fully reopened.
Morning Update Saturday 9am:
As of 9am, Highway 63 remains closed in both directions. High winds around town are still causing heavy drifting, including along Highway 63 north of the city.
eavy drifting, including along Highway 63 north of the city.
Highway 881 is currently open, but travel is not recommended.
For the latest road conditions and updates, download the Alberta 511 app.
Evening Update: Movement Begins on Highway 63 as Crews Continue Rescue Efforts
There is finally some movement on Highway 63 south of Fort McMurray after a long and difficult day for stranded motorists.
As of 4:15 p.m., southbound drivers who were stuck along the highway have now been assisted and are beginning to move. Crews have shifted their focus to those stranded in the northbound lanes, with work expected to continue throughout the evening.
Despite that progress, Highway 63 remains closed in both directions. Only vehicles being escorted out of the affected area are currently moving.
As of 10:30pm Highway 881 is now open, but travel is not recommended.
Heading into the evening and overnight, closures will remain in place. Northbound traffic on Highway 63 is being stopped at Wandering River, while southbound traffic is being held at the Highway 881 junction. Highway 881 continues to be blocked in both directions north of Imperial Mills.
The situation developed after a powerful storm brought heavy snow, strong winds, and significant drifting to the region. In some areas, snow accumulation reached up to two feet, leaving vehicles stuck and large sections of highway blocked.
Throughout the day, crews have been working to reach stranded motorists, including families with children. Emergency responders have been providing food and fuel where possible, while heavy tow trucks and equipment are being escorted into affected areas to begin clearing a path.
A coordinated response remains underway involving RCMP, provincial crews, and local support. Heavy wreckers, loaders, and additional equipment are being used to free vehicles and create a safe route through the hardest-hit areas.
In a statement, Mayor Sandy Bowman acknowledged the stress many residents have faced.
“We know this has been an incredibly difficult and stressful situation for people who were stranded overnight,” Bowman said. “We are focused on doing everything we can to support the response and help residents get home safely.”
Officials continue to stress that travel is not recommended on Highway 63 or Highway 881. Even as conditions slowly improve, both highways remain unsafe.
Drivers are being asked to avoid the area entirely and to check updates through 511 Alberta.
Within Fort McMurray, roads remain icy and snow covered. Anyone who must travel is urged to slow down and allow extra stopping distance.
For those still stranded, the advice remains to stay in your vehicle with hazard lights on, check that your exhaust pipe is clear, and avoid running your vehicle if it becomes blocked.
Emergency crews will continue working through the night as efforts shift toward clearing the remaining vehicles and reopening the highway when it is safe to do so.
12pm Afternoon Update:
Highway 63 and 881 Still Closed, Hundreds Stranded South of Fort McMurray
The closure on highway 63 in both directions currently runs between Highway 881 and just south of Crow Lake Provincial Park. Strong winds and blowing snow have continued through the day, keeping visibility low and making travel unsafe.
100+ motorists remain stuck along the highway, including families with children. Some are gathered around Mariana Lake and other areas along the route. Crews have been working around the clock to reach them, but conditions overnight created additional challenges, with some tow trucks, plows, and emergency vehicles also getting caught in the same conditions.
RCMP say tow trucks are now being escorted in the opposite lanes to reach blocked vehicles and begin clearing the road. Additional heavy-duty equipment has also been brought in to help move things along.
Emergency responders continue to provide food and fuel where they can, but the priority remains getting people out safely.
Police had issued travel warnings more than 24 hours ago. Despite that, many drivers were already on the road before conditions worsened, which contributed to the full closure.
There is still no estimated time for reopening, and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.
In a separate incident, Lac La Biche RCMP are responding to a collision involving two semi-trucks on Highway 881 north of Heart Lake. Debris from the crash has blocked both directions, and that section of highway is currently not passable. Access to communities like Anzac and Conklin may still be possible, but non-essential travel is discouraged.
Within Fort McMurray, roads remain icy and snow covered. Drivers are urged to slow down and allow extra stopping distance.
Anyone stranded is advised to stay in their vehicle with hazard lights on. It’s also important to regularly check that the exhaust pipe is clear, and not to run the vehicle if it becomes blocked, as this can be dangerous.
