Josh Classen's forecast: The cold spell is (finally) winding down

Ice and snow covers the North Saskatchewan River underneath Edmonton's Walterdale Bridge in this aerial photo taken on Dec. 9, 2024. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton)

We're into the final days of what has been a COLD week in Edmonton, but it's not over just yet.

The average high for Dec. 16-20 in Edmonton is -5 C.

Actual daytime highs for Tue/Wed were -17 C and temperatures haven't been above -14 C in Edmonton since early Monday morning.

We'll be close to that mark later today, but a high around -15 C is still COLD.

It's tomorrow that we'll probably notice a bit of a change as temperatures get to the -10 C range in the afternoon.

THEN...back to average for the weekend and above average (and possibly slightly above 0 C) for most of next week.

Elsewhere around the province, temperatures get close to 0 C today and should be above 0 C for Friday and the weekend in western Alberta.

Eastern Alberta will see temperatures moderate in the coming days, but will (in general) have to wait until Monday for a return to average.

There's a chance of some flurries/light snow overnight tonight and/or early Friday morning in Edmonton.

It doesn't look like we'll get much more than a dusting to maybe as much as 2 cm of accumulation around the city and south towards Red Deer and Calgary.

2-5 cm of snow is possible across northern Alberta, starting in the northwest tonight and moving into northeastern Alberta by Friday morning.

East-central Alberta also gets some light snow through the morning hours of Friday.

There IS a slight risk of some rain/snow mix or possibly freezing rain early Friday morning, particularly for areas south of Edmonton.

If you have travel plans that put you on the QE II early Friday, check highway conditions before heading out as it may be slick and icy.

LONG RANGE Outlook:

Not much of a precipitation chance beyond Friday morning. In fact, we should warm up AND get some sunshine through the weekend and early next week.

Daytime highs near or slightly above 0 C are expected from Monday-Friday of next week.

Here's the forecast for Edmonton and area:

Today - Mostly cloudy this morning, a few sunny breaks this afternoon.

High: -14

Tonight - Mostly cloudy. 60% chance of flurries/light snow overnight.

9pm: -18

Temperature rising overnight.

Friday - 60% chance of flurries early in the morning. Clearing in the afternoon.

Morning: -13

Afternoon High: -9

Saturday - Mix of sun & cloud.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Morning Low: -13

Afternoon High: -4

Sunday - Partly cloudy.

Morning Low: -14

Afternoon High: -4

Monday - Mainly sunny.

Morning Low: -10

Afternoon High: 0

Tuesday - Mostly cloudy.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Morning Low: -8

Afternoon High: 1

Wednesday - Partly cloudy

CHRISTMAS DAY

Morning Low: -7

Afternoon High: 1