Brief fling with warmth coming to an end in Alberta as snow, chill looms
An Alberta clipper will swing across parts of the province this week with 3-15 cm of snow, enough to make for some slippery roads and tricky driving for motorists
Alberta will be a province of contrast this week.
Northern sections will see the potential for record-breaking warmth on Wednesday, while the southern portion will see a swath of snow for Thursday.
DON'T MISS: Abnormal December heat may break records in Canada this week
The culprit will be an Alberta clipper, which will brush southern sections of the province with 3-15 cm of snow. Slippery roads could make for tricky travel, so plan ahead and adjust to rapidly changing conditions.
Thursday sees colder air, snow push in
Colder, more seasonal air will ooze from the northwest, bringing temperatures back to reality on Thursday. Temperatures will hover around the freezing mark, while a clipper develops. That will bring snowfall once again to parts of Alberta.
The QE2, from Red Deer to Calgary and east, appears the most at risk for accumulating snowfall.
A stationary front sets up from Jasper to Red Deer, extending into Hanna, branching out a swath of persistent snow. Accumulations of 5-10 cm, with more forecast locally.
There is still room for change as a slight shift in the storm track may bring heavier snow north or south of this line.
Snow begins later in the morning Thursday, lingering though the day. Any snow that falls may not stick around very long, with another mild air push forecast this weekend.
Going somewhere? Check out the current highway conditions before heading out!
A few weak lows will track across far northern parts of the region this weekend and into early next week, bringing rain and snow-showers, but a relatively quiet pattern is anticipated for most of the population through the week leading up to Christmas.
For a look at what Alberta can expect during the winter, check out The Weather Network's seasonal outlook, here.
Thumbnail courtesy of Matthew, taken in Boyer 164, Alta.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for Alberta.