The start of this weekend will be hot and sunny, with daytime highs in the high 20s to low 30s across southern Alberta. A ridge of high pressure situated over most of Alberta is creating a stable weather pattern, meaning conditions will remain mostly calm and clear on Friday and for the start of Saturday. Clouds will build throughout southern British Columbia Saturday with rain expected to start later in the afternoon. Some of those showers will become thunderstorms, with the lightning and stronger wind creating concern for vulnerable areas. There is also the potential for dry lightning over the weekend, which according to the BC Wildfire Service Aug. 20, 2026, Provincial Situation Report, “could drive increased fire behaviour throughout the southern third of B.C.” Some of that rain is likely to cross over the Rockies on Saturday. Scattered showers and non-severe thunderstorms are possible in central and southern Alberta Saturday night. On Sunday a low-pressure system will move into central Alberta, south of Edmonton, and there is a chance of larger, more intense storm cells south of the Yellowhead Highway. In Calgary daytime highs will peak at 28 C on Saturday with an overnight low of 16 C, so homes without air conditioning will likely struggle to cool down. Daytime highs will range from 24 C to 28 C until next Friday and then drop back down to 22 C for the weekend.
