After a beautiful Tuesday with lots of sunshine and a high of 28 C, Calgary will return to more seasonal temperatures Wednesday thanks to some gusty northerly winds blowing at 30 to 50 km/h. Wednesday will start out calm enough for the city, so if you have any gardening or outdoor plans, the morning and early afternoon are the best times to be outside. The winds will start to pick up at around 2 p.m., and some models suggest active weather could arrive in Calgary around 3 p.m. – though it seems like there is a stronger storm potential for the area later in the day between 7 p.m. to midnight. Looking at the severe storm outlook issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada, Calgary is just outside the moderate risk zone. The primary hazards when it comes to storms for Calgary on Wednesday will be 70 km/h wind speeds, rapid rainfall up to 30 mm and small-sized hail. However, it is good to factor the risks in the moderate zone, which includes 100+ km/h winds, higher rainfall amounts and hail up to four cm in diameter. This storm system will gain intensity as it tracks into Saskatchewan, with regions in that province experiencing the most severe risks indicated in the outlook – plus the possibility of tornado development. The wicked weather will subside overnight, but it will cool Calgary off noticeably with a low of 9 C and a Thursday high of 17 C – well below the normal 23 C high for this time of year. Cloudy conditions will prevail for the rest of the work week, with the chance of scattered showers. By the time we get into Saturday, we regain stability with a mix of sun and clouds and comfortable highs of 24 C.
