Edmonton is expected to see a sharp change in the weather on the first weekend of autumn, with wind and cooler temperatures becoming the main features on Saturday. Showers are possible late Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday, but the forecast does not call for heavy, steady or prolonged rain in the Edmonton region.

The system expected to affect Alberta Friday night and Saturday includes a surface low moving south to north across the province and an upper low swinging in. Together, they are forecast to produce heavier pockets of rain around Rocky Mountain House and Nordegg on Friday evening, with possible snow at higher elevations in the mountain parks. The best chance for rain in Edmonton is late Friday evening and overnight.

By early Saturday morning, most or possibly all of the rain is expected to have moved into northeastern Alberta. Areas near Fort McMurray could see heavier rain early Saturday and possibly a mix of rain and snow. Edmonton is forecast to remain cloudy through Saturday, with a slight chance of a scattered shower.

Saturday’s afternoon high is expected to reach only 12 or 13 C. Winds from the west-northwest are forecast at 20 to 30 km/h, with gusts of 40 to 50 km/h. The forecast describes the day as cool and windy, while Sunday is expected to bring easing winds and a return of sunshine. Temperatures will recover slowly, with a high of 15 or 16 C, though Sunday is expected to feel much warmer than Saturday.

Before the weekend shift, Edmonton is forecast to have sunny breaks through the first half of Thursday, followed by cloudier skies in the afternoon and evening. Thursday’s high should be similar to Wednesday’s, around 17 or 18 C. There is a slight chance of a shower late Thursday evening, but most, and probably all, of that rain is expected to remain around Edson, Whitecourt and Grande Prairie.

That rain is forecast to extend toward Fort McMurray on Friday morning. Edmonton’s overnight temperature heading into Friday is expected to fall to about 12 C, and despite mostly cloudy skies, the afternoon high should reach the upper teens. The forecast gives Friday a 60 per cent chance of showers developing in the evening and overnight.

Morning temperatures are expected to stay well above 0 C on Friday and Saturday, then move much closer to the freezing mark from Sunday through Tuesday. Sunday’s forecast calls for mainly sunny skies and light wind, with a low of 3 C and a high of 15 C. Monday is expected to be partly cloudy, with a morning low of 2 C and an afternoon high of 17 C. Tuesday is also forecast to be partly cloudy, with a low of 4 C and high of 19 C.

The detailed outlook lists Thursday as a mix of sun and cloud in the morning, turning cloudy in the afternoon, with a high of 18 C. Thursday night is expected to be mostly cloudy, with a 30 per cent chance of a shower late in the evening or overnight and a temperature of 14 C at 9 p.m. Saturday’s forecast gives a 40 per cent chance of a shower early in the morning and a 30 per cent chance of a scattered shower in the afternoon. Looking into next week, skies are expected to be partly cloudy on most days, with afternoon highs in the mid to upper teens.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.