Road conditions
Is Highway 3 through the Crowsnest Pass open?
Highway 3: Crowsnest Pass to Lethbridge and Medicine Hat · 319 km
Open — no closures reported
3 construction zones reported.
From Alberta 511 ↗️, which is authoritative and always takes precedence over this page.
This data may be delayed. Last updated October 8, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. — about 4 hours ago. Check the source directly before relying on it.
The Crowsnest Pass is the lowest of Alberta's mountain crossings and stays open when others do not, but the stretch west of Fort Macleod is among the windiest in Canada — high-wind advisories for high-sided vehicles are common and worth taking seriously.
Construction
Roadwork causes delays, not closures — it does not change the verdict above.
- Constructionat TaberHWY-3 (Both)
Construction Work on HWY-3 Both Directions from HWY-36 to Range Road 121 . Activities: Be prepared to stop, Traffic congestion, Expect traffic delays
Lanes: No DataType: constructionWork511 updated 5:00 a.m. - Constructionat TaberHWY-3 (Both)
Construction Work on HWY-3 Both Directions from Range Road 163 to HWY-36 . Speed Restriction: 60km/hr Activities: Lane closure, Speed reduction, Traffic congestion, Local road detour, Expect traffic delays, Width restriction, Drive with caution, Highway Maintenance Vehicles
Lanes: No DataType: constructionWork511 updated 5:10 a.m. - Construction between Taber and Bow IslandHWY-3 (East)
Construction Work on HWY-3 Eastbound from Range Road 132 to Range Road 143 . Speed Restriction: 80km/hr Activities: No passing, Speed reduction, Expect traffic delays, Drive with caution, Follow Directions
Lanes: No DataType: constructionWork511 updated 5:10 a.m.
Weather along the route
Current conditions from the nearest Environment and Climate Change Canada station to each point. Mountain weather changes faster than any forecast — this is a guide, not a guarantee.
B.C. border (Crowsnest Pass)
20°A few clouds
Crowsnest
Fort Macleod
14°Clearing
Claresholm, 36 km away
Medicine Hat
19°Mostly Cloudy
Medicine Hat
- ThursdayMainly sunny22° / 12°
- FridayCloudy21° / 5°
- SaturdayPeriods of rain8° / 1°
Fire bans along the route
Fire bans, restrictions and advisories in effect near this road.
- Lethbridge ↗️Fire Ban — Lethbridgeon the route
- Cowley ↗️Fire Advisory — Cowleyon the route
- Town of Taber ↗️Fire Advisory — Taber1 km from the route
- MD of Pincher Creek, Village of Cowley and Piikani First Nation ↗️Fire Advisory — Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 96 km from the route
- Municipal District of Taber ↗️Fire Advisory — Municipal District of Taber13 km from the route
- Cypress County ↗️Fire Advisory — Cypress County18 km from the route
- Village of Glenwood ↗️Fire Advisory — Glenwood27 km from the route
- Village of Hill Spring ↗️Fire Advisory — Hill Spring30 km from the route
- Town of Magrath ↗️Fire Advisory — Magrath31 km from the route
- County of Forty Mile no.8 ↗️Fire Advisory — County of Forty Mile No. 833 km from the route
Showing the 10 closest to the route, of 12.
Common questions
- Is Highway 3 through the Crowsnest Pass open?
- Open — no closures reported. 3 construction zones reported.
- What is happening on Hwy 3 right now?
- Alberta 511 is reporting 3 construction zones on this route.
- What should I know before driving Hwy 3?
- The Crowsnest Pass is the lowest of Alberta's mountain crossings and stays open when others do not, but the stretch west of Fort Macleod is among the windiest in Canada — high-wind advisories for high-sided vehicles are common and worth taking seriously.
- How windy does Highway 3 get?
- The section between the Crowsnest Pass and Fort Macleod regularly sees gusts over 100 km/h. Environment and Climate Change Canada issues wind warnings for it more often than for anywhere else in the province, and high-sided vehicles and trailers are the first to be affected.
- Is Highway 3 a good winter route to British Columbia?
- It is the lowest and generally the mildest of Alberta's mountain crossings, at 1,358 m, which is why commercial traffic favours it when the Trans-Canada is difficult. It still closes for weather and collisions, so check before relying on it.
More
Road data from Alberta 511 (Government of Alberta), weather from Environment and Climate Change Canada, advisories from Parks Canada and Alberta Parks, fire bans from Alberta Fire Bans, and wildfire mapping from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System. The verdict above is derived from that data by fixed rules, with no AI in the decision — but the official sources are authoritative and always take precedence. This page carries no advertising.