Edmonton’s water-logged month of July will end with a hot and dry day. This will end up as the city’s second-wettest July on record with 265 mm of rain. The wettest July ever (and wettest month, period) was back in 1901 when 283 mm of rain fell. A short-lived upper ridge minimizes the thunderstorm risk across central and southern Alberta today and pumps up the heat. Temperatures should hit the upper 20s in Edmonton and area this afternoon. We’ll keep that heat on Saturday with a high near 30 C. But, the upper ridge will start to collapse later in the day and an area of low pressure will bring some thunderstorms to the northern half of the province. Those storms should fire up in northwestern Alberta in the afternoon. The risk for the Edmonton area is late Saturday afternoon and into the evening hours. The highest risk for severe storms looks like it’ll be in areas just north and northeast of Edmonton and up towards the Bonnyville region. The thunderstorm risk turns to heavier, steadier rain for parts of central and northern Alberta late Saturday and through the day Sunday. Edmonton and area could get 15-30 mm of rain on Sunday with gusty wind. Temperatures will drop from near 30 C Saturday afternoon to a high in the mid teens on Sunday. That system should move off by Sunday evening and we’re expecting a “mix of sun and cloud” with a high in the low 20s on Monday in the Edmonton area. So... a little bit of everything through this coming Heritage Day long weekend. Here’s the forecast for Edmonton and area: Today - Partly cloudy. High: 28 Tonight - A few clouds. 9pm: 24 Saturday - Sunny in the morning. Increasing cloud in the afternoon. 60% chance of evening showers/thunderstorm. Risk of a severe storm. Morning Low: 16 Afternoon High: 30 Sunday - Cloudy. 70% chance of showers and/or rain. Windy. Morning Low: 13 Afternoon High: 16 Monday - Mix of sun & cloud. Morning Low: 10 Afternoon High: 21 Tuesday - Partly cloudy. Morning Low: 10 Afternoon High: 23 Wednesday - Mix of sun & cloud. Morning Low: 12 Afternoon High: 23
