By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Winter weather to make an extended Christmas visit

Dec 18, 2017 | 5:36 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Did someone say, “White Christmas?”

As predicted, colder air has begun to move into southern Alberta – just in time for a low-pressure system to drop a significant snowfall on the area. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire region.

“We’re looking at quite a change in conditions than what we have been enjoying,” Environment Canada meteorologist Andy Yun said Monday, Dec. 18. “Over the next day or two we can certainly say winter is coming back, for sure.”

First, cold air is expected to move in Monday, dropping the temperature by several degrees. That will pave the way for snow that will stick around through Christmas and beyond.

“Exactly where that snow’s going to set up, and how much we’re going to get, especially in the Lethbridge area, is still a little too early to tell, but amounts could be anywhere from 10-20 cm of snow,” Yun explained. “Especially for the city of Lethbridge, we’re thinking probably you’ll get a little bit on the higher end of that snowfall amount.”

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Areas to the west such as Pincher Creek and Cardston could receive as much as 30 cm, while in the mountains totals could reach 40 cm. Yun said the purpose of the special weather statement is to give people a heads up, as they make pre-Christmas travel plans. Warnings will be issued once forecasters have a better idea of amounts and locations.

Whatever snow we get appears destined to stick around through Christmas, Yun added.

“It certainly looks like after the snow hits, into the weekend and into next week, that colder air is going to be around. We’re looking at temperatures (that are) probably going to be well below seasonal, at least through into next week.”

The colder air and snow follows a windy weekend. All wind warnings for southern Alberta were lifted Sunday evening, after gusts that reached 98 km/h at Waterton Lakes National Park, 97 at Pincher Creek, 84 in the Crowsnest Pass, 82 at Lethbridge, and 71 at Claresholm.