Synoptic patterns associated with heavy spring snowfalls in southwestern Alberta

Several of the spring storms producing heavy precipitation in southern Alberta exhibit a remarkably similar synoptic pattern. The essential features common to these storms appear to be a moist southerly flow aloft over southern parts of the province coupled with a 'deep northeasterly upslope'.The topograghy of western Alberta is discussed in relation to its influence on spatial and time variations of heavy snowfall.