Massive temperature swing on the way for Alberta: ‘coldest weather this winter’

globalnews.ca:

forecast high was close to 10 C — much warmer than the normal daytime high of around -3 C.But wind gusts of up to 60 km/h are forecast for late Thursday and by overnight Saturday, the mercury is expected to plunge to around -20 C.

The wind will make it feel even worse.“Strong wind gusts up to 90 km/hr are possible across the province, with the 100 km/hr gusts possible through the Crowsnest Pass,” said Lizée.“There’s also a small chance we could see some lightning along the advancing cold front, thanks to some winter instability.” In Edmonton, the daytime high on Wednesday was forecast to be around 7 C — compared to the normal daytime high of -7 C.On Thursday, wind gusts of around 70 km/h and snow showers are expected as the temperature starts to drop.“The province will see this cold front settle in on Thursday, bringing strong wind gusts and snowfall or freezing rain in many areas,” said Global Edmonton weather specialist Ciara Yaschuk.Between Thursday afternoon and Saturday night in Edmonton, temperatures are forecast to plunge by up to 40 degrees and overnight Sunday could be even colder.While the daytime temperatures are expected to be around – 20 C, the overnight temperatures could see things dip closer to -30 on Saturday and Sunday.In Lethbridge, the normal temperature this time of year is around -2 C, but wind gusts approaching 100 km/h on Thursday will usher in much colder temperatures.By Sunday night in the windy city, it’s forecast to drop to -26 C — not including the dreaded windchill.While the frigid temperatures might be a shock to the system for many Albertans after the recent warm weather, it is forecast to be short-lived.“The cold weather will only last a few days, as warmer air moves back in early next