No matter if Thanksgiving celebrations may be a bit muted this year because of the pandemic, one thing that most people wish for every long weekend is nice weather.  

According to Environment Canada, if that's what you have on your wish list heading into the holiday weekend, prepare for it to come true.  Well, at least half of it.  "It will start off quite nicely, right around the normal to above normal range," says Meteorologist Sara Hoffman.  "Normal for this time of year is a daytime high of around 12 degrees and we're forecasting a high of 17 today (Friday) and then 16 for Saturday."

After the balmy conditions of Saturday, the bottom will drop out starting Saturday night. Okay, maybe not drop out.  More like develop a slow leak.  "A cold front will pass through the area bringing a chance of some showers and gusty winds and cool things off a bit for Sunday."

Hoffman explains that Sunday will also have some strong winds, particularly for areas south of Airdrie from a system centred over Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  For Thanksgiving Monday we get into a more stabilizing pattern with the winds weakening but, unfortunately, temperatures staying about the same as on Sunday, 10 degrees, with no return in sight the above-normal conditions we've been experiencing this fall with a high of just 8 degrees forecast for turkey-day.

Hoffman says the many above-average days during September and early October and the, so far, virtually snow-less fall have spoiled us just a bit.  But, let's face it, we could all use some spoiling in 2020. 

Hoffman explains that while, what she calls their "deterministic models" or those that forecast temperatures, winds, etc. tend to lose their accuracy the further out you go, they are appearing to forecast normal temperatures for the remainder of October.  In fact, Environment Canada was calling for a warmer than normal fall this year. "That does fit with the September that we had, and the start of October that we've had.  It does look like that warmer than normal fall is sort of panning out.  At least for now." 

 

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