Snowfall warnings, wind warnings and highs near 20 C in southern Alberta Thursday

The southern portion of Alberta will see unusually warm daytime highs on Thursday as the region sits under the northern portion of a ridge of high pressure.

In Calgary, the temperature is expected to reach 15 C by the afternoon with highs of 18 C to 19 C for community’s further south.

It will likely feel a bit cooler than the ambient temperature on Thursday due to stronger winds.

In Calgary, sustained southwest winds of 20 to 40 km/h are expected by the afternoon.

With speeds forecast to reach 100 km/h in southwestern Alberta on Thursday, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a wind warning for that region explaining, “The strongest winds will occur near Waterton National Park. Winds will weaken overnight. Damage to roofs, fences, branches or soft shelters is possible.”

Rainfall warnings have been issued for the B.C. coastline with persistent moisture expected to fall over the B.C. interior and into the Rockies by Thursday afternoon.

The national weather agency also issued a snowfall warning for areas west of Calgary noting, “Heavy snow is expected today, with total amounts of 15 to 30 centimetres over higher elevations. Snow will begin this afternoon and continue through the night. The heaviest snow is expected over higher terrain, including parts of Highway 93. Lower elevations, including the communities of Banff and Jasper, should see little to no snow accumulation.”

Calgary could see some rain, mixed precipitation, and/or snow over the next 24 hours as this system crosses over the border and tracks south along the foothills.

Most of the moisture should be squeezed out before that system makes it over the QEII and Highway 2 corridor on Friday, but light snow is possible in Calgary for the morning commute.

Daytime highs will drop quickly on Friday to just 2 C in Calgary as that ridge flattens out and colder air moves in from the north.

There will be a brief rebound Saturday including a return to double-digit highs before a consistently cooler pattern emerges for next week.

Starting Tuesday daytime highs will range from 0 C to 3 C in Calgary with lows between -4 C to -6 C.

The average range in Calgary this time of year is 3 C for a high and -9 C for a low.