A cooler weather pattern is setting up over central and southern Alberta bringing unsettled conditions and lower temperatures. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected from Edmonton to the southern border over the next few days. There likely will not be a lot of organization within these disturbances over the next 24-hours, so chances are slim for a single massive storm will form. However, some areas will see hail and may experience brief periods of heavy rain – especially from Airdrie to the U.S. border later in the day. As of 10:30 a.m., a yellow-level severe thunderstorm watch was issued for areas east of the foothills – including Calgary – with Environment and Climate Change Canada explaining the greatest threats include large hail, damaging wind gusts and rain. Wildfire smoke has impacted air quality across southern British Columbia and into Alberta – with both orange and yellow-level air quality warnings issued on Tuesday. Scattered showers and/or thunderstorms are possible west of the Rockies on Tuesday and Wednesday, but intense, soaking rain is not forecast for the B.C. region in the immediate future. Any lightning and/or intense wind in this area is concerning given the current wildfire situation as well as recent hot and dry weather. Tuesday’s high in Calgary is expected to reach 19 C, which is four-degrees below seasonal. However, 19 C will also be the warmest temperatures in Calgary until Saturday. A low-pressure system will become the main weather maker later in the week when it swings into southeastern Alberta. The counterclockwise rotation around that low will create highly variable precipitation totals in southern Alberta. At this point there is uncertainty where the highest rainfall totals will be, but there is a chance the bulk of rain will fall south, west, and east of Calgary by Friday.
