Snow or no? Here’s what Albertans can expect to see in the forecast this December

December is here, but it looks like the forecast didn’t get the memo. Though it’s been nice not having to shovel the walks or dust off our car, it’s just not a holiday season without that Alberta chill.

Luckily, for those in Calgary and Edmonton hoping for snow, today (December 6th, 2023), might be the day!

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“We’re expecting a snowfall event to go through tonight and into tomorrow through much of central Alberta,” said Alysa Pederson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“Edmonton is going to get a little bit of snow, Red Deer and everywhere west of Red Deer is likely to get the most snow with potentially upwards of 20 cm with this event.”

Edmonton 7-day Weather Forecast

Calgarians should also reach for their winter boots this evening, she explained.

“Down towards Calgary, we’re really expecting 5 to 10 cm in the city, but there’s absolutely the potential that we could get a little bit more just depending on how much melts because it’s been so warm yesterday and today.”

Calgary 7-day Weather Forecast

Southern Alberta is also expected to see the flakes fly Thursday night and into Friday – but according to Environment Canada, it’s not going to be that significant.

As for whether we’ll see snow around the holidays? That’s up in the air – but it might not last on the ground.

“It’s probably not going to be much to really give us more confidence in that white Christmas that we’re all hoping for by the end of the month,” she said adding that after the snow falls, the temperatures will hover around or above 0°.

“It’s hard to say at this time because we’re not really looking at any big deep freezes before Christmas at this point.”

“We’re in an El Niño right now and the El Niño is strengthening through December and January. More of what we’re seeing over the last month or so is what we’re expecting through the winter. We are going to be getting snow storms like the one we’re getting right now… but the whole trend month to month for December, January and February – we’re expecting it to be warmer than normal and dryer than normal.”

So, there you have it, Alberta.

Prepare for snow in Calgary and Edmonton and cross your fingers for it to stick around, but – don’t hold your breath for a picture-perfect December 25th.

It might be a California Christmas.