A strong low-pressure system crossing Alberta is bringing showers, isolated thunderstorms and cooler air, with Edmonton expecting rain overnight Friday and gusty, chilly conditions Saturday. The system is forecast to move away quickly, allowing sunshine to return Sunday. The forecast was reported by CTV News Edmonton in a report titled “Stormy start to the weekend.”

Rain was falling across northern Alberta Friday morning and was expected to continue through much of the day. The Peace Country was forecast to receive about 5 to 15 millimetres. Areas from Fort McMurray north were expected to get 30 to 60 millimetres by midday Saturday, while areas from Edson and Nordegg through Whitecourt and Barrhead were forecast to receive 10 to 20 millimetres Friday afternoon and evening. Edmonton’s expected total was about 5 to 10 millimetres, mostly overnight.

The system was also expected to bring gusty conditions to northwestern Alberta, the south and areas along the Saskatchewan border. Edmonton’s winds were forecast to remain relatively light Friday at 10 to 15 kilometres per hour, with gusts increasing late Friday night as rain moved through. Gusts of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour were expected across the Edmonton region throughout Saturday, with winds continuing through the day.

Edmonton’s high was forecast to reach about 18 C Friday, before falling to 10 to 12 C Saturday afternoon under cloudy, windy skies. The detailed Saturday forecast called for a morning low of 7 C and an afternoon high of 11 C, a 70 per cent chance of a shower early in the morning and a 30 per cent chance of a scattered shower in the afternoon. Winds were forecast from the west-northwest at 20 to 30 kilometres per hour, with gusts of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour.

Sunday was forecast to be mainly sunny with light wind, a morning low of 3 C and an afternoon high of 14 C. The broader outlook described Sunday’s high as in the low to mid-teens and said it would probably “FEEL a lot nicer than Saturday.” Monday was forecast to be partly cloudy, with a low of 1 C and a high of 17 C. Tuesday was also expected to be partly cloudy, with a low of 5 C and a high of 17 C.

For Wednesday, the forecast called for mostly cloudy skies, a 40 per cent chance of showers, a morning low of 5 C and an afternoon high of 15 C. Some sun and temperatures in the mid to upper teens were expected early next week, followed by a decent chance of showers mid-week and another drop in temperature afterward.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.