We have bad news for those clinging onto autumn colours, bonfires, and sweater weather.

It's time to break out the snow shovel.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Sarah Hoffman says there's a pretty potent little Alberta low weather system headed our way.

"Starting overnight Thursday and into Friday morning we are expecting either rain or snow, that will switch over to full-on snow by later in the morning on Friday."

If you commute, Hoffman warns it could be a nasty one.

"Temperatures will be right near that zero degrees mark, add in some rain and snow at zero degrees and that can have an impact on driving and create some winter driving conditions for your trip into work."

For areas around High River, Okotoks, and the Foothills (east of the mountain parks) we're expecting about 5-10 cm's, but for areas closer to those mountain parks like Kananaskis and Banff, experts are expecting about 10-20 cm's with the possibility of localized heavier snowfall of up to 30 cm by Saturday.

Hoffman says while they haven't developed an official winter forecast, she says we are looking at a weak to moderate 'La Nina.

"I mean that is what we had last year, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything really, but that's the connection we're dealing with this year and on average that usually comes with a cooler and snowier than usual winter especially for the mountain parks."

Last year thanks to the warmer December and January months, the cooler February temps balanced out the winter to an average Alberta winter, which is what Hoffman thinks we can expect this year.

"The winter if you look at it as a whole, turned out to be average weather-wise, and it's really hard to look at this year so far out, but what we can say is that every winter we get snowstorms and systems that will produce heavy snowfalls with gusty winds and localized reduced visibility with blowing snow, that's just winter in Alberta."

With winter weather on our horizon, Hoffman says now might be the time to start getting those snow tires on, and practice our winter driving skills.

For your full five-day weather forecast, including what experts are predicting for Halloween so far, click here. 

 

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