Winter arrived extra-early in southern Alberta this week, just as a late-summer heatwave hit central and eastern Canada.
Drivers on Highway 22 southwest of Calgary got their first taste of winter driving Wednesday morning, after a light blanket of snow fell overnight, followed by a light rain that covered the roadway in slush.
Images from the area showed a dusting of snow on the foothills near Canmore, and Sunshine Village resort in Banff tweeted images of snow on the trees around Rock Isle Lake.
Environment Canada had issued frost advisories for parts of southern Alberta Wednesday. However, those gave way to forecasts of temperatures in the mid-to-high teens and partly sunny skies for Thursday and into the weekend.
Skiers with thoughts of heading to Banff a little early this year will have to wait a little longer. The weekend forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 22 C.
Meanwhile, Central and Eastern Canada were enjoying a late summer heatwave Thursday that was forecast to extend into Friday.
Temperatures with the humidex had already reached 32 C in Toronto by mid-morning Thursday, with Friday’s humidex readings expected to push close to 40 C.
Late Friday thunderstorms will cool the air and the rest of the weekend is sunny with a high of 22 C on Sunday.
Ottawa and Montreal have much the same forecast, while the heat will stick around for residents of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia right through the weekend, with predicted Saturday highs of 28 C.
