Edmonton weather: Summer starts with a thunderstorm risk and a weekend cool down

CTV Edmonton's Cory Edel's forecast shows an unsettled Friday, but better weekend.

Today’s the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year...with over 17 hours of daylight.

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But...we won’t be feeling any summertime heat in the coming days.

Temperatures should get to around average today with a high of 21 C this afternoon and then we’ll drop into the mid 20s for highs Saturday/Sunday in Edmonton.

Further south, heavy rain is expected in the coming days from Red Deer south with rainfall warnings in effect.

50-100 mm of rain is expected today and Saturday with the potential for more in the southwest corner of the province and there’s a chance of accumulating snow at higher elevations for southern parts of the mountain parks.

All of that heavier, steadier rain will stay well to the south of the Edmonton region this weekend.

But...we do have a good chance of some late-day showers and/or thunderstorms in the area today.

That should start to move into the Edmonton region by mid-to-late afternoon with the greatest chance for thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening hours.

Then...a chance of some showers late into the evening and possibly overnight.

Clouds will clear out through Saturday morning and we’ll get some sun for Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

But, as mentioned, temperatures will be three or four degrees below average and we’ll have some gusty wind on Saturday.

A warming trend starts to kick in early next week and daytime highs should hit the mid 20s by mid-week.

Here’s the forecast for Edmonton and area:

Today - Partly cloudy. 60% chance of a late-afternoon shower or thunderstorm.

High: 21

Tonight - 60% chance of a shower or thunderstorm this evening.

30% chance of showers overnight.

9pm: 17

Saturday - Mostly cloudy in the morning. Partly cloudy in the afternoon.

Breezy. NE 20 gusting to 40 km/h.

Morning Low: 11

Afternoon High: 17

Sunday - Mainly sunny. Light wind.

Morning Low: 6

Afternoon High: 18

Monday - Partly cloudy.

Morning Low: 7

Afternoon High: 20

Tuesday - Mix of sun & cloud.

Morning Low: 9

Afternoon High: 22

Wednesday - Partly cloudy.

Morning Low: 12

Afternoon High: 26