After experiencing unusually hot temperatures in the high 20°C, some areas in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley started the week off with a rare June snowstorm.
In response to the snow, a warning was issued for the Icefields Parkway due to heavy, wet snowfall.
Since Monday, 20 to 40 centimetres of snow blanketed Highway 93 North between Lake Louise and Jasper before things calmed down Tuesday night.
Samantha Mauti, a meteorologist from Environment and Climate Change Canada, explained that this weather change is a shift from the warm temperatures they had been having.
“Snow levels are in and around 1,700 metres this morning (Tuesday), and rain through some of the lower terrain areas. It’s also pretty cold, and a lot of the temperatures in the area are well below normal for this time of year,” Mauti told Rocky Mountain Outlook.
The snow is falling at higher elevations, around 1,700 meters, while the lower areas are experiencing rain. The temperatures in Banff and Canmore have been much colder than usual, with highs of 13°C and 9°C on June 18 and 19, respectively.
As the week progresses, temperatures are expected to rise to more normal levels, reaching a high of 17°C on Thursday, 21°C on Friday, 20°C on Saturday, and 22°C on Sunday.
Although there may be showers, the temperatures will be closer to what is typically expected for this time of year.
Environment and Climate Change Canada presented its seasonal weather outlook for the summer. Most of Canada is expected to have higher-than-normal temperatures until at least the end of August.
June has already seen above-normal temperatures in several regions, which are expected to continue throughout the summer. This includes Alberta, which has faced early-season wildfires, leading to the evacuation of many residents.
Many experts point to climate change to explain the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Rising temperatures contribute to heat waves, dry conditions, wildfires, and heavy precipitation risks.
Climate change is also expected to increase the intensity of rainfalls, which is expected to cause urban flooding and coastal flooding in many areas of Canada due to rising sea levels.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, we can also expect the average intensity of hurricanes to increase. To make matters worse, Canada is warming at twice the global rate.
“In anticipation of a warmer, drier summer and its associated severe conditions, Canadians are urged to regularly monitor weather forecasts, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared for weather-related events by developing an emergency plan,” warned Environment and Climate Change Canada.
