From 20 C to 20 cm of snow: Fine line dividing weather on the Prairies
A late-March snowstorm will roll through a swath of the Prairies while temperatures in parts of the southern areas of the region will approach the 20-degree mark
Spring weather is in full swing on the Prairies this week, with a sharp contrast of weather that divides the region by a mere 500 kilometres or so.
Warmer conditions will spread across the south later this week, as very mild southerly air moves in. Meanwhile, about 500 kilometres away from the warmth, some locales from central Alberta to southern Manitoba could see 10-20 cm snow, with locally higher amounts possible.
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For parts of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, this will likely be the first 20-degree weather of the year so far.
20 degrees or 20 cm of snow? What lies ahead this week
From 20°C to 20 cm of snow, we will see a drastic difference in weather conditions within a span of just 500 km. While the south basks in this taste of pleasant temperatures, central sections of the region will be dealing with some early-spring accumulations.
A clipper system will form over central Alberta, tracking into the Dakotas by the weekend. This will be the perfect storm track to leave the heaviest snow along the Yellowhead Highway.
Totals are somewhat uncertain at this time as models continue to analyze where the storm develops and the amount of Pacific moisture reaching the Prairies.
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Currently, a widespread 10-20 cm is possible from central Alberta to southern Manitoba, with locally higher amounts likely in northwestern Alberta.
Regions north of Saskatoon, Sask., and northwest of Edmonton, Alta., have the highest likelihood of exceeding 20 cm of snowfall.
Preliminary city snowfall forecast:
Edmonton: about 15 cm
Lloydminster: about 20 cm
Saskatoon: 15-20 cm
Brandon: about 15 cm
Winnipeg: about 10 cm
Regardless, this wintry blast will be enough to slow commute times, so be sure to plan ahead for the changing conditions later this week.
By Friday morning, snow will taper to snow-showers across central Alberta, but farther east across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, pulses of heavy snow and a wintry mix will continue.
Much colder weather is forecast for the final few days of March, and into the start of April, as well.
Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images.
Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across the Prairies