A white thanksgiving? Fall flurries set to hit southern Alberta this weekend
A strong cold front will bring Alberta its coldest weather since spring. Calgary may even experience its first measurable snowfall in nearly six months.
Albertans soaking up the final shreds of September warmth may want to dig out their parkas—and fast.
A strong Arctic front is expected to strike the province this weekend, threatening to turn Thanksgiving into a white one for some.
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Friday's mild highs in the high teens and low 20s will be short-lived, as experts predict a sharp cooling beginning late Saturday.
The system, one of the year's strongest cold fronts, will bring in frigid Arctic air and gusty winds of up to 60 km/h as it sweeps across the province.
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From rain to flakes
For parts of northern Alberta, the change will begin with rain Saturday morning and transition to snow by evening as the front travels south toward the foothills and Calgary.
In the city, this implies a sloppy setting, with rain turning to wet snow overnight Saturday and Sunday. Southern Alberta areas such as Lethbridge and Medicine Hat may also experience flurries on Sunday morning.
Still, there's a catch — the ground is still warm from recent mild weather, so much of the snow will melt on touch.
Any accumulations that do stick would be Calgary's first since April 22, when the city received only 0.2 centimetres of snow.
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Could it be a white Thanksgiving?
Technically, yes, assuming the snowfall reaches the "white Christmas" standard of at least two centimetres on the ground by 8 a.m. But it is a big if.
In recent years, Calgary has only had one Thanksgiving that meets that definition: in 2018, two centimetres fell.
This time around, experts believe two centimetres in the city is improbable, but regions west of the QEII and at higher elevations have a better chance of seeing some accumulation.
And while the snow may not stick, the cold certainly will.
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Cold snaps locks in for Sunday
By Sunday, temperatures are projected to drop 10 to 15 degrees below seasonal averages.
If the forecast holds, Calgary's afternoon high could match March 30's -1.1°C, the city's lowest temperature since spring.
Edmonton and Red Deer could also experience their coldest daytime temperatures since early April and late March, respectively.
Stay with The Weather Network on the latest across Alberta