Snow, rain, and wind: Brace for slower long weekend travel on the Prairies
Prairie snowfall possible this weekend, along with widespread wind and rain
Dreaming of a white Thanksgiving? A swift pattern change sweeping across the Prairies will arrive with gusty winds and a dose of snowfall for some areas this weekend.
A moisture-rich low from Wyoming will meet a cold front pulling in Arctic air—a classic recipe for early-season flakes.
There’s still some uncertainty surrounding the timing of the snow and potential amounts. Travel could prove difficult in spots.
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Cold front crashes across the Prairies on Saturday and Sunday
Alberta is first in line to experience the rapid temperature drop on Saturday as our cold front moves through the province. Temperatures are on track to fall as much as 15 degrees in Edmonton and Calgary.
Snow across the Rockies will slowly creep toward lower elevations during the overnight hours. Exact accumulations are uncertain at this time, but it appears eastern portions of Alberta will see more flurries while accumulation remains confined to parts of the foothills.
With temperatures in the 20s across southeastern Alberta on Saturday, warm ground conditions will likely limit any snow from sticking.
Wind and snow could interrupt travel
The low will move into Saskatchewan on Sunday, spreading rainfall across the province throughout the day. As a cold front catches up with the system, some areas north of the storm track could see the rain transition to wet snow, particularly from Regina on Sunday to Churchill, Man., by early Monday.
Strong gusts between 50–80 km/h, with localized areas reaching up to 90 km/h, are expected across southern Saskatchewan into Manitoba from Sunday evening through early Monday.
These gusty conditions combined with potential snowfall could lead to poor visibility.
There remains significant uncertainty around snowfall amounts. The timing of the cold front will play a crucial role, and current forecast models lean towards a rain-dominant event, particularly for Manitoba.
Temperatures in Saskatchewan and Manitoba will see a significant decline as the cold front moves through.
Highs near 20°C on Saturday will drop to just above freezing by Sunday.
Looking ahead, temperatures will struggle to rebound to the seasonal mark as the trough responsible for our unsettled conditions locks in over the region.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across the Prairies.