CALGARY -- A couple days ago, I chatted about how our forecast was going to roll in phases. Today is Phase II.

Our upper air pattern will enter a breakdown phase from a ridge to a trough, and the process pushes westerly wind across the foothills. The levity-position on this: I've set our Ponytail Index to a 7.

Calgary, ponytail index, Feb. 25

The less-joyful part: wind gusts could hit hurricane force in parts of our province today. Category-one hurricane speeds are from 119 to 153 km/h. Along the Nakiska Ridgetop, that happened already, with sustained winds at 6 a.m. topping at 137 km/h:

Southern Alberta wind speed, Feb. 25

Median wind across the southern reaches of Alberta will likely peak in the early afternoon, and those who are pressure-sensitive will likely want a cold cloth on the forehead, too.

As I said, this is part of a breakdown phase aloft. That means instability. Tomorrow, we'll watch for a good dose of cooling, potentially creating a downtrend (falling temps through the daylight hours) as we go, and almost certainly generating flurries tomorrow evening, which will roll into Saturday.

Here's the five-day forecast:

Today:

  • Partly cloudy, windy! Gusts in the 60 km/h range
  • Daytime high: 5 C
  • Evening: some cloud, low -4 C

Friday:

  • Afternoon snow showers, cooling
  • Daytime high: -1 C
  • Evening: more snow, low -9 C

Saturday:

  • AM flurries, then partly cloudy
  • Daytime high: -5 C
  • Evening: some cloud, low -9 C

Sunday:

  • Partly cloudy
  • Daytime high: 7 C
  • Evening: some cloud, low -1 C

Monday:

  • Mainly sunny
  • Daytime high: 5 C
  • Evening: some flurries, low -8 C

Jason and Vivien both took advantage of a mild, clear day to capture great photographs of the city!

Downtown skyline, Calgary, Jason, viewer

rocky mountains, Calgary, Cochrane, Vivien

You can submit your weather photos here, or email me here! Kevin Stanfield