Warm fall? Cold fall? Calgary can expect it all

Weather Network says cool, warm periods coming

Warm weather is in store for Calgarians this week, as the cold gives way to mid-20s temperatures.

But the sunny week won’t necessarily be a signal of the autumn weather to come.

According to the Weather Network’s fall forecast, September, October and November are likely to bring see-sawing temperatures, with both cool and warm periods.

“On average, we’re thinking once we tally up all the numbers by the end of the season, we’re going to be around normal,” said Erin Wenckstern, a meteorologist with The Weather Network.

That typical up-and-down Prairies weather pattern could also translate to an early snowfall, although levels of precipitation are expected to be around normal for the Calgary area.

“You can be 25 degrees, and the joy of living in Calgary is that the next day you can be snowing,” said Wenckstern. “We’re going to have periods of cold rain, warm rain and then also some snowfall into the Foothills and into the Rockies.”

Overall, Albertans can expect a more typical fall season — a change from last year’s mild autumn forecast.

“We’re not seeing that predominant warm air in place for a long period of time,” said Wenckstern.

“We’re going to have a pretty active season.”

As for the winter preview, Alberta is unfortunately the “wild card” in the national weather forecast, according to Wenckstern.

But, at this point, it looks like Calgarians could be in for a chillier season, with a potential continuation of flip-flopping temperatures.

“It doesn’t look like, at this point in time, predominant warmth over the west,” said Wenckstern. “So not the same kind of forecast we’ve had these past few winters, where it’s been relatively mild and dry.”

The Weather Network will release its winter forecast in November.