Prepare for some temperature whiplash this week in southern Alberta.
As we approach the middle of January, pleasant, above-seasonal temperatures will prevail on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the positive single digits.
If winds are strong enough, we could even be treated with some double-digit highs by mid-week. This is all thanks to a dominant ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere that will provide the warmth, wind and sunshine for about three days.
But buckle up, come late Thursday, the warming trend is going to be bulldozed by an incoming Arctic air mass that will envelop the prairies and parts of eastern Canada.
While Thursday will start off warm and clear, this upper low will start to make its mark early Friday morning with cloudy conditions and a forecast high of -8 C. Come Friday night, the chill will really start to settle in, and by Saturday, temperatures will get into the minus teens at best.
In addition to the cold temperatures, this Arctic low is also expected to bring some flurries to the area on Friday, though snowfall accumulation will probably be pretty minimal, considering this is a dry air mass that isn’t packing a lot of moisture.
So, enjoy the warmth while it sticks around, but keep the heavy parka and the block heater cord on standby for the weekend.
