Snowfall warnings issued for parts of Alberta this weekend
Break out the shovels and take care if you plan to travel across southern Alberta this weekend. Some spots could see hefty snowfall totals.
Snowfall warnings are in effect for parts of Alberta as the season’s first burst of winter weather takes aim at the southern half of the province.
There’s even a chance that this system could be an overachiever for some areas.
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Snow will begin to develop across the foothills on Friday night, spreading in intensity and coverage as we head into Saturday morning. Accumulating snowfall will reach as far east as the QE2 through Sunday.
We’ll see the precipitation continue through the day on Saturday, gradually tapering off through the overnight hours into Sunday morning.
Snowfall warnings were issued early Friday for areas into the foothills, with as much as 20+ cm possible by the time all is said and done. Calgary could see 5-10 cm of snow in all by the end of the weekend.
Depending on the timing of the storm and extent of cold air at the surface, we’re watching the potential that snowfall along the southern foothills could overperform and produce more snow than expected.
With this being one of the first major snowfalls of the season, it may challenge drivers or catch some motorists off guard.
"Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions," says Environment and Climate Change Canada in the warning. "Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Take frequent breaks and avoid strain when clearing snow."
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Looking ahead, this system will herald a significant pattern change for Alberta. Wave goodbye to the summer-like warmth that’s bathed the region for so many weeks now.
Daytime high temperatures heading into next week will fall solidly on the cooler side of seasonal, with the mid-single-digits expected in Calgary through the end of the month.