Cold, snowy, and icy weather moves in southern Alberta overnight

Turn in temperatures and conditions on the way. Jodi Hughes has a look at the five-day forecast from the Sky Watch Weather Centre.

A large atmospheric river has been funneling moisture into the B.C. coast over the past 36 hours and that same system is now mixing up with an arctic air mass tracking across the western Prairies.

That combination is producing very dangerous weather conditions across central and southern Alberta and in the Rockies.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a swath of yellow-level warnings early Thursday including snowfall warnings in the southeast corner of the province, flash freeze warnings along the southern Alberta border, freezing rain warnings for Lethbridge and most of Highway 3 in Alberta and blowing snow warnings along the central/eastern border of Alberta.

As of 8:30 a.m., the freezing rain warnings were dropped and the blowing snow advisory had been expanded west toward Calgary.

Highway conditions in Alberta and B.C. were largely snow-covered and icy early Thursday, with visibility compromised.

More precipitation is expected in B.C. and Alberta on Thursday and Friday.

The heavier accumulations in Calgary and areas west will likely occur on Friday.

Temperatures will sit close to -20 C on Thursday with wind chill values making it feel close to -30 at times.

And daytime highs on Friday will be even colder.

Once that upper pattern starts to shift there will be a rapid warmup with a 10 degree jump in daytime highs between Saturday and Sunday.

Expect expediated melting and strong west winds on Sunday and Monday.

This warmup will be short-lived as another quick drop is forecast for the end of next week.