CTV News Edmonton has reported:

Edmonton is heading into a brief warm spell, with temperatures forecast to reach 18 C on Friday and 17 C on Saturday before cooler air arrives early next week. The warmth comes as an upper ridge moves across Alberta and brings warmer air aloft down to the surface. Sunny skies are expected Friday, while Saturday will bring a mix of sun and cloud.

Wind speeds will vary over the next several days. Gusts across the Edmonton region topped out between 70 and 90 km/h on Wednesday, while Thursday afternoon gusts are expected to reach 30 to 40 km/h. Friday should be fairly calm, before gusts rise to 50 to 60 km/h on Saturday and ease to 20 to 30 km/h on Sunday.

Thursday morning is expected to be sunny with calm conditions in the Edmonton region. A few clouds should move in later in the afternoon as the wind picks up, and the high is forecast near 12 or 13 C, slightly above the seasonal average high of 11 C. The detailed forecast calls for a high of 12 C today, with a southerly wind becoming 20 km/h and gusting to 40 km/h in the afternoon. Tonight should bring a few clouds, with gusty conditions easing overnight and a temperature of 9 C at 9 p.m.

Friday’s detailed forecast calls for mainly sunny skies, a light wind, a morning low of 4 C and an afternoon high of 18 C. Saturday is expected to start at 6 C and reach 17 C, with a west-northwest wind of 30 km/h gusting to 50 to 60 km/h in the afternoon and evening. There is some uncertainty about Saturday’s temperature and whether the warmth will linger or move farther east. The forecast outlook suggests temperatures could reach at least 15 C and possibly 18 or 19 C, with 17 C selected as the high.

Showers are expected in northern Alberta late Saturday as the upper ridge moves away. The Edmonton region has a slight chance of a spotty shower Saturday evening. Saturday’s strong gusts may make the precise temperature less significant, according to the forecast.

Cooler air is expected to arrive early next week, bringing temperatures closer to late-October averages, though not cold conditions. Sunday through Friday of next week, daytime highs should range from 10 to 14 C. The detailed outlook gives Sunday a partly cloudy sky, a west wind of 15 km/h gusting to 30 km/h, a low of 4 C and a high of 12 C. Monday is forecast to have a mix of sun and cloud, a low of 2 C and a high of 11 C; Tuesday is also expected to have a mix of sun and cloud, with a low of 0 C and a high of 11 C.