Winter arrives this weekend.
A Pacific weather system will collide with a cold dome of Arctic air to bring significant snow and a risk of freezing rain to Southern Alberta, followed by a significant drop in temperatures over the weekend.
Today, the system which has already given 10 cm of snow to Grande Prairie will begin to move southwards during the day. By Sunday morning 10 to 15 cm of snow is expected to fall in the Jasper area, with lesser amounts further east.
Further south, early Sunday morning there is a freezing rain risk around Calgary and areas to the south east. During the day Sunday the snow band will continue to push southward dropping 10 to 15 cm in the mountains and foothills with 5 to 10 cm expected as far east as Red Deer and Drumheller regions. Snow will blanket most of Southern Alberta with 5 to 10 cm by Monday morning.
Behind the snow a cold Arctic front will bring brisk north winds causing temperatures to plummet during the day on Sunday. Overnight Monday, skies will clear and temperatures will dip as low as minus 18 giving windchill values as low as minus 25 over many regions of Southern Alberta.
Total snowfall accumulations from the weekend snowfall could reach 20 to 25 cm over western sections and 5 to 15 cm through most of the central and southern parts of the province.
The public is advised to monitor future forecasts and warnings as warnings may be required or extended.
Please monitor the latest forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada at WWW.WEATHER.GC.CA.