Surprise, Alberta! Fresh coat of snowfall for some areas this weekend
Believe it or not, but snowfall chances are forecast this weekend in Alberta’s Rockies.
The Prairies are finally making the transition to a more autumnal pattern.
While still tipping to warmer-than-normal overall, more changeable weather with shots of colder-than-normal temperatures, especially for Alberta, are coming.
DON’T MISS: Calgary’s first frost looms! Follow these tips for more time in the garden
The arrival of lower temperatures this weekend will bring the opportunity for snow across portions of the Rockies. Folks in Calgary are on the lookout for the city’s first frost of the season, and it may also see a few snowflakes mix in with some of the rain.
Change is on the way for Alberta
A sharp cold front expected to move through Alberta will send temperatures plummeting across the province. Overnight temperatures on Saturday will come in just above the freezing mark. Freezing levels will dip below 1500 metres in the Rockies on Saturday evening as precipitation eases.
Precipitation will begin as light rain near the Elbow Region, then spreading southward into the afternoon hours.
Calgary will see light rain on Saturday afternoon and evening, ending by Sunday morning. Don’t be surprised if you see a few snowflakes mix into the heaviest downpours.
This precipitation, which may amount to 5-15 mm, will end the dry streak that the city endured through September. It will likely be the heaviest rainfall in nearly two months, since Aug. 8 (8.2 mm).
While precipitation will remain rain at lower elevations, snow is in the forecast for the alpines. Some of the higher elevations may see 10-15 cm of accumulation through Sunday morning. Banff and Jasper may see a rain/snow mix that’ll end overnight Saturday.
Coldest day since?
April 20: Lethbridge, 6.9°C high
April 21: Jasper, 6.3°C high
April 27: Calgary, 7.8° high
May 4: Banff, 8.0°C high
First frost of the year for Calgary will be possible in the pre-dawn hours on Sunday morning. It will be 160 days since the city recorded its last temperature below zero––the longest period on record.
Next week, temperatures will be within the seasonal mark by a couple of degrees (15 °C for Calgary airport).
Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across Alberta.