Reality returns to Alberta as temperatures take a dive and snow appears
More reflective weather for this time of the year returns to Alberta Thursday, with colder temperatures arriving alongside snow –– up to 10 cm possible for some areas
After whopping, double-digit, mid-December temperatures in Calgary, a colder, more seasonal air will return to the city, and province, for Thursday –– bringing daytime high values back to reality.
With the more realistic weather situation in Alberta reappearing, a clipper will develop and bring snowfall once again to parts of the province.
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The system will brush southern sections of the province with 5-10 cm of snow. Slippery roads could make for tricky travel, so plan ahead and adjust to rapidly changing conditions.
An Alberta clipper brings snow on Thursday
The QE2, from Red Deer to Edmonton, and across the Yellowhead Highway, appear the most at risk for accumulating snowfall.
A stationary front setup has shifted farther north, from Hinton to Wainwright, extending a swath of persistent snow here.
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Totals of 5 to 10 cm, or more locally, are forecast. With this northern shift, accumulating snow could push into Edmonton after a slow, almost non-existent start to winter.
However, there is still uncertainty over where the heaviest snow will fall, but between Edmonton and Red Deer seems the most probable –– risking a tricky evening commute.
Snow begins later in the morning Thursday, lingering though the day. Any snow that falls may not stick around very long, either, with another mild air push forecast this weekend.
A rather quiet pattern is expected late this week through the next, with no major storms expected. Places that do not have snow on the ground at the end of this week are expected to remain brown through Christmas –– including some places that typically see a white Christmas, such as Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.
For a look at what Alberta can expect during the winter, check out The Weather Network's seasonal outlook, here.
Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images/bluebeat76.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for Alberta.