From 20 C to -11 C: Alberta to feel a weekend weather whiplash
Enjoy the mild weather, Alberta. The warmth will quickly get replaced by much colder air and snow for many to end the weekend
A mild start to the weekend is anticipated on parts of the Prairies, but the finish to it will be quite the contrast.
While temperatures will jump into the mid- and upper teens on Saturday for locales such as Calgary and Medicine Hat, respectively, with an assist from downsloping winds, the daytime highs will take a noticeable plunge on Sunday. And there will be accumulating snowfall for many areas, with a swath of 5-20 cm possible.
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Wind warnings are in place as some areas could see gusts of 80-90 km/h.
Drivers are urged to prepare for weekend travel risks with the winds, and snow-related disruptions.
Powerful winds whip in for Saturday
Wind gusts of 80-90 km/h are forecast along the foothills from Montana to northeast B.C., while gusts of 50-60 km/h are expected over the lowlands.
Strong low crosses central Saskatchewan, triggering gusty, downsloping winds in Alberta with gusts exceeding 80-90 km/h possible in the foothills.
A strong Pacific jet stream arcs across the province, ushering in extraordinarily mild temperatures across extreme southern sections.
Temperatures south of Highway 1 could approach 20°C Saturday before cooling as the cold front moves in.
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Snow band could impact Sunday travel
Although the clipper will now be in Manitoba come Sunday, the resulting cold front will be diving south over Alberta.
Northerly gusts will still gust to 80 km/h behind the front over central Alberta, while southern areas will remain in the milder, downsloping, westerly wind.
A razor sharp cold front will sag south, with temperatures to the south staying in the teens and those in the north will fall below freezing.
The frontal squall will be the focus for whiteout conditions and the heaviest snowfall.
Sunday evening, bursts of heavy snow will likely occur, and there will likely be a swath of it extending east to Saskatchewan along the sharp cold front.
The location of the heaviest snow will vary along the front, conditional on the placement and lift generated by the extreme temperature boundary.
The snow will continue into Monday. Expectations are for 5-15 cm for the immediate foothills and across southern Alberta, and the heaviest swath for lowlands, but Calgary could get 10-15 cm.
There is the potential for the initial clipper to drop 15-20 cm for Fort McMurray.
Weekend travellers should be cautious about strong winds, especially with light trailers. Snow could cause travel disruptions Sunday evening into Monday.
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