Drivers beware: Powerful winds set to whip into parts of Alberta
Downsloping winds set to blow into Alberta with the threat for gusts up to 100 km/h.
First major snow and now powerful winds -- a pattern change over western Canada has set the scene for some rocky late October weather in parts of Alberta. Wind gusts up to 100 km/h are forecast for communities right along the foothills for Thursday, with conditions still quite gusty for larger cities like Calgary as well. Drivers are being warned to brace for the hazardous winds, especially along the southern half of the QE2. More on the wind timing and impacts, below.
PHOTOS: The Prairies see Canada's first major snowfalls of the season
Through Thursday: Powerful winds blow across parts of Alberta, very cold weather to follow
Strong winds are expected to blow across parts of Alberta this week as a pattern change over western Canada has allowed the return of Pacific lows to stream back into British Columbia.
The conveyor belt of moisture into B.C.'s coast will lead to a pile up of precipitation, strung out over the Coastal and Rocky Mountain regions. As a result, strong downsloping winds are forecast to develop for the foothills of Alberta Wednesday overnight, gusting through the day on Thursday as well.
Wind gusts of 80-100 km/h are forecast for communities right along the foothills, with peak winds forecast to hit on Thursday.
"Transport travel along the southern half of the QE2 and parallel roads such as Highway 22 in the south should prepared for hazardous wind gusts," warns Kelly Sonnenburg, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
For larger cities like Calgary and surrounding areas, gusts between 50-70 km/h are more likely, but scattered southern areas as well as far northern Alberta could see wind gusts near 80+ km/h through Thursday afternoon and evening as a cold front sweeps across the province.
With the exception of some high elevation Rocky Mountain snow, not much precipitation is forecast across the province with this system. Some flurries and rain showers may creep further east into the foothill communities through Thursday and Friday morning though.
Wind gusts are forecast to ease during the pre-dawn hours on Friday.
WATCH: Arctic air oozes across your Halloween outlook Canada
Forecasters are closely watching the increasing potential for a blast of very cold weather and Arctic air next week, with a rather chilly and wintry pattern set to take shape for the first week of November.
Be sure to check back for the latest forecast conditions across Alberta.