Warm end to the week ahead of a cold and wet weekend

Warm weather, but some precipitation expected soon. Jodi Hughes has a look at the five-day forecast from the Sky Watch Weather Centre.

Once again the “hot spot” in Canada on Wednesday came from Alberta, with both Brooks and Esther posting temperatures of 17.6 C.

Most of Alberta saw above seasonal temps on Wednesday, a trend that will continue Thursday and Friday.

The main weather-maker has been a persistent ridge of high pressure situated over B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.

That ridge will track to the east by the end of the week and be replaced by a strong low pressure system developing over northern Alberta on Friday morning, before it descends south and east over the weekend.

Embedded storms within that low will bring rain and possibly snow for a good portion of the province.

The type (rain vs. snow) and amount of precipitation will be heavily dependent on location, temperature and elevation.

The associated cold front will produce strong winds, up to 80 km/h in southwestern Alberta, as well as strong gusts in open and/or wind-prone areas.

This cooler weather will be short-lived.

Another ridge is expected to move in to B.C. by Sunday, before cutting across southern Alberta Monday.

Associated stability should hold daytime highs in the low to mid-teens for most of next week.