Thanksgiving Forecast Brings Snow West and Warmth East Across Canada

Canadians will encounter sharply different weather conditions during the Thanksgiving long weekend, as a Pacific low-pressure system brings early-season snow to western provinces while warmer air initially favors Ontario and Quebec. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada and The Weather Network, Alberta faces potential travel disruptions, while changing storm patterns could bring rain to eastern regions later in the weekend.

Alberta faces some of the most significant snowfall risks, with western communities potentially receiving more than 20 centimeters. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement Thursday morning, warning that accumulating snow could affect the Calgary-Edmonton corridor and other highways as rain transitions to snow.

Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the seasonal transition was arriving at a typical time for Edmonton.

"It's coming whether we like it or not," said Terri Lang, meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Lang noted that Edmonton's average first snowfall falls on Oct. 7, placing this year's seasonal change close to the historical average. She said early snow events often disappear quickly because daylight remains plentiful and warmer air can return.

"The average first snow fall is Oct. 7 for Edmonton, so we're basically right on track and usually these are the types of snows that come in and are quickly gone, because there's still lots of daylight left in the days, and warmer air to come," Lang said.

The agency's forecast identified western Alberta, including Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper National Park, as areas with the greatest potential snowfall. Officials cautioned that totals elsewhere in the province remained uncertain and that rapidly deteriorating conditions could complicate holiday travel.

"Many areas of Alberta are expected to see accumulating snow on Saturday, possibly including the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. The highest snowfall amounts are expected in western parts of the province, including Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper National Park, where snow totals could exceed 20 cm. Snow amounts for other areas of the province remain uncertain. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions," Environment and Climate Change Canada said in its special weather statement.

Lang described the expected precipitation as a possible mixture of rain and snow, with heavier, wet flakes. She said snowfall measurements could be difficult to establish and that snow might accumulate in yards without building up substantially on roads.

"These early season snowfalls are usually fleeting, and I know we all live in denial of winter coming, but this is a good reminder," Lang said.

The meteorologist also emphasized the potential for winter-like conditions on the roads despite the possibility of a brief snowfall.

"Folks should be ready for winter driving conditions," Lang said.

According to The Weather Network, British Columbia will experience cooler temperatures and mountain flurries as freezing levels fall to 1,500 meters on Saturday. Sunny conditions are expected there on Sunday and Monday, while snow could spread across parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan through Saturday and into Sunday morning. Temperatures across the Prairies are forecast to fall into single digits by Sunday, and Manitoba could see mixed rain and snow.

Eastern Canada will begin the holiday period on a warmer note. Southern Ontario and Quebec could record daytime highs in the low to mid-20s, while northeastern Ontario is forecast to reach the mid- to upper teens. However, the remnants of Hurricane Isaias could increase rainfall chances across southern Ontario and bring showers into southern Quebec by Sunday.

Atlantic Canada is forecast to see showers in Newfoundland on Saturday, with sunnier conditions across the Maritime provinces into Sunday. The approaching Pacific low is expected to reach Newfoundland by Monday, bringing additional showers and widespread snow to Labrador, while rain could spread across the Maritimes by Monday evening.

In Edmonton, snowfall is expected to ease on Sunday before temperatures recover. The forecast calls for sunshine and a high of 8 C on Monday, followed by 13 C and sunny skies on Tuesday.