Calgarians should prepare for snow and bitter temperatures this week, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
660 NewsRadio meteorologist Kevin Stanfield says Calgarians should enjoy the warmer temperatures at the beginning of the week. Environment Canada says as the week goes on, conditions are expected to change.
“An extended period of cold conditions is just around the corner, so enjoy today, Tuesday, and Wednesday while you can, because Wednesday evening, the drop starts,” he explained.
Monday’s forecast is a high of 5 C with a few rain showers or flurries that could get heavy overnight.
It will clear Tuesday morning to a high of 1 C, but ECCC says the wind chill could make it feel like – 16 C in the afternoon.
Wednesday is expected to be sunny, with a high of 4 C. The low could be quite chilly, though; it’s forecast at -19 C with the windchill in the afternoon.
Thursday is when temperatures are expected to drop and ECCC says there’s a 60 per cent chance of snow. The high for the day is -18 C and the low is – 25 C.
The cold weather will continue into the weekend — more snow is expected Friday, alongside a high of -19 C and a low of -22 C.
There’s a 30 per cent chance of flurries for Saturday with temperatures expected to hover around -16 C throughout the day.
Conditions are expected to slightly improve on Sunday, with a mix of sun and cloud and a high of -13 C, according to ECCC.
The weather agency says the average low for this time of year is -13 C.
Other areas of Alberta are also expected to get a blast of winter weather this week — ECCC says much of the Peace Region north of Edmonton, including Grande Prairie in the west and areas near Athabasca in the east, could see between 15 and 30 centimetres of snow.
Red Deer and Medicine Hat are under a winter storm watch that could bring heavy rain, strong winds, and snow ahead of Tuesday.
Stanfield says there could be extreme cold warnings through central and northern parts of the province.
In the mountains, ECCC is warning of strong gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour in areas as far north as Banff, stretching to the border with Montana.
