Severe thunderstorms possible in central and southern Alberta

Fog developed over portions of central and southern Alberta early Friday and yellow-level fog advisories were issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada for areas east of the QEII to the Saskatchewan border.

A very saturated ground from the start of the week contributed to fog developing in and around Calgary with fog visible on several 511 Alberta traffic cams during the morning commute.

A more typical west-to-east pattern has resumed in the upper levels which will lead to at least a week of more seasonal temperatures across the region.

While it will be consistent, this is not an entirely stable pattern so there is a chance of precipitation this weekend, including in the Calgary area.

On Friday afternoon, a low-pressure system will develop over central Alberta and may produce moderate to severe thunderstorms.

This system would not bring a lot of rain but has the potential to include rapid intensification, rotation, larger-sized hail and damaging wind.

That low is expected to form around the QEII between Calgary and Red Deer in the early afternoon and track north and east over the Yellowhead.

Calgary could see some thunderstorm activity on Friday and again on Saturday, although the thunderstorms on Saturday will likely be less organized and more scattered.

On Sunday, another low will develop in central Alberta, but this one is expected to include more precipitation with rain wrapping around the counter-clockwise rotation of this slow-moving system and impact most of the area from the central foothills to east of the QEII and run north to south from north of Edmonton to south of Calgary.

Mixed precipitation is possible in higher elevation locations in the Rockies as temperatures will be cooler.

There will be a good mix of sun and cloud over the next week with overnight lows ranging from 5 C to 9 C compared to the average low of 6 C.

Daytime highs will hover in the high teens for most of the 10 days, with Sunday and Wednesday forecast to be the coldest days.