Unseasonable December warmth sends Alberta temperatures soaring high
Wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h will keep drivers on edge on Highway 2 in Alberta on Tuesday, driving temperatures to nearly 20°C above normal. However, change is on the horizon
December is off to quite a balmy start in Alberta. Perhaps you don’t need to head south, just yet.
Temperatures will be in the upper teens on Tuesday –– as much as 20 degrees above normal in some locales. You can thank the chinook winds for the pleasant assist in the unseasonable warmth.
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Winds could soar to 100 km/h, allowing for warm air to drive the temperatures as high as they could be. Localized areas could see some trees or power lines topple as result, so motorists will need to exercise caution on the roads.
Windy and mild Tuesday
For those right along the southern foothills, Tuesday will be a gusty day, but as Albertans know, that means temperatures will be quite mild with those downsloping, chinook winds.
Gusts could reach as high as 100 km/h, which can wreak havoc on trucks travelling in the area. The strongest gusts will be in the foothills along Highway 22 and west, with weaker winds reaching 50-70 km/h along Highway 1.
Temperatures are forecast to be quite mild with these chinook winds, with daytime highs reaching into the upper teens.
Going somewhere? Check out the current highway conditions before heading out!
These temperatures are well above seasonal for this time of year. Some areas could even reach 20°C above normal for this time of year, but is confined to just southern Alberta.
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However, the rest of the Prairies are still above seasonal.
It is normal to see mild temperatures with chinook winds, but the temperatures on Tuesday could even rival some of the warmest December temperatures on record. The better chance is for Lethbridge and Medicine Hat versus areas farther north.
The pattern is for colder temperatures to return back to the province the rest of the week, but the warmth continues the trend of seeing below-normal snowfall so far this snow season.
For a look at what Alberta can expect during the winter, check out The Weather Network's seasonal outlook, here.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for Alberta.