OLDS – Environment Canada says an abrupt change to the weather is on the way for parts of southern and central Alberta later on Monday.
The federal agency issued a special weather statement Monday morning for the Airdrie - Cochrane - Olds – Sundre area.
After a stretch of above average spring temperatures, the federal agency says a cold front will move through the afternoon of April 15 and evening reaching the American border tonight.
“This front will usher in a cooler airmass along with rain and snow. Precipitation will start as rain before changing to snow,” the special weather statement noted.
“The transition from rain to snow will begin this evening north of the Calgary area, and overnight near Calgary,” it continued.
Regions closer to the Saskatchewan and American borders will see rain for a longer duration before eventually switching to snow on Tuesday, the federal agency said.
“With temperatures hovering just above zero degrees Celsius, precipitation type as well as snowfall accumulations will vary greatly. There remains uncertainty as to how much snowfall will accumulate, though amounts of five to 10 (centimetres) are possible by Wednesday morning in some locations."
Calm and cooler conditions are forecast on Wednesday, and for the remainder of the week.
