Calgary Stampede may come with a weather rodeo this year
The Calgary Stampede's opening weekend may feature a back-and-forth between sunny warmth and overcast chills.
Alberta's biggest event of the year, the Calgary Stampede, kicked off on July 3. The ten-day event, which draws in over one million visitors from across the country, primarily takes place outdoors. This makes paying close attention to the forecast an absolute must.
This year, the forecast looks like a rodeo of weather, with fluctuating daytime highs and a back-and-forth between sunshine and showers.
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Opening weekend: Mostly sunny with the risk of a few rumbles of thunder
A surface trough over the Prairies will usher in some instability to kick off the weekend. Friday afternoon could see some showers and thunderstorms disrupt activities.
The trough is expected to shift eastward on Saturday, clearing the skies for the sun to take over and temperatures to rise into the mid-20s.
By Sunday, another system is forecast to develop over the Rockies and bring increasing cloudiness to the bustling city in the morning, followed by the return of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon. Folks may want to carry a sweater or jacket on Sunday, as daytime highs will stay on the cooler side in the mid-teens.
Next week: Sunshine and warm temperatures wrangled in by a changeable pattern
Sunny skies and above-seasonal warmth will make a comeback on Monday, bringing a pleasant start to the week.
There is a heightened risk for showers to develop Wednesday through Friday as a frontal system is likely to move through the region.
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Most of the precipitation should stay in northern Alberta, where wildfires are currently burning, but we could see some showers and thunderstorms make their way south into the Calgary area through the week.
Temperatures will dip back to seasonal by next weekend, but forecasters are seeing signs of the pattern gradually changing to bring more heat to Western Canada by the second half of the month.
Stay with The Weather Network for more information and updates on your weather in Calgary.