Calgary could get more April snow next week

It's a reminder to Calgarians that Mother Nature is still calling the shots golf courses are opening Some forecasters are predicting heavy snowfall in the city early next week.

Snow is forecast to fall starting Monday and has the potential to turn parts of southern Alberta into a winter wonderland by mid-April.

The good news is that daytime highs on Monday and Tuesday are expected to be above freezing, with overnight lows barely below freezing, so a good portion of the snow will likely melt quickly.

Even so, Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Shelley says motorists still need to be prepared for changing conditions.

“Early next week, we will see a dramatic change in the pattern,” he said, adding that an upper trough is moving in from the west. “By the middle of next week, it's going to drop our temperatures dramatically.”

“It will also produce a low pressure system that will track the plains and produce wintry conditions.”

Shelley says there is still uncertainty in the system and an accurate prediction of total snowfall is still too far away. He said the foothills and higher-elevation areas west of Calgary will see higher accumulations.

“Calgary and parts of the Southeast will get snow,” says Shelley. “It's like Monday night and Wednesday night.”

He said it should come as no surprise to Albertans that areas around Calgary typically get more snow in the spring months than in the winter.

“This is the time of year when we see anything,” says Shelley. “It's certainly a dynamic time of year.”

Meanwhile, Calgarians should enjoy spring weather for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

According to Environment Canada, there will be a mix of sun and clouds on Friday, with a high of 15 degrees. The weekend is expected to be even warmer, with 17 degrees on Saturday and 19 degrees on Sunday.

More about Calgary weather and extended forecast can be found here. Listen every 10 minutes for the latest traffic and weather updates CityNews 660.