It had to happen eventually.
Edmonton’s lingering honeymoon with autumn ceased Sunday evening when an area of high pressure descended on Alberta from the north, said Environment Canada meteorologist Trevor Smith.
“It’s not really a shock for Edmonton and the Prairies at this time of year,” Smith said.
The agency’s Monday forecast calls for a high of -17 C with the temperature falling to -19 C. Wind of 30 kilometres an hour, gusting to 50 km/h, will create a wind chill of -29 C.
Although Smith expects the wind to taper off Monday night, it will still feel like -30 C, according to Environment Canada. Temperatures will remain in the low teens and -20s for the rest of the week, sinking to -28 C by Thursday night.
About two centimetres of snow could fall Monday, then the sky should clear as the deep freeze settles in for the rest of the week, said Josh Classen, CTV Edmonton’s chief meteorologist.
Ski and snowshoeing enthusiasts must exercise patience — or head to snowy southern Alberta — because there aren’t many flakes in Edmonton’s forecast. Thick, heavy dumps are rare when the mercury contracts this much, Classen said.
“I think a lot of people would love to see snow, and not as cold. We’re getting the reverse of that,” Classen said.
November in Edmonton was the fifth-warmest on record, Smith said. The average daily high of 4.6 C was nearly 5 C higher than average.
The coming week will be the first time since January 2015 when the temperature will stick below -15 C for at least four days, Classen said.
On the plus side, sun will finally replace gloomy, overcast days.
