Oh, the weather outside is frightful.

But for the past week and a half it's felt like early Fall temperatures in Southern Alberta.

Temperatures have been up by five degrees past the normal temperature at this time, which is essentially a heat wave.

Metorologist Kirk Torneby at Environment Canada says the nice plus temperatures recorded lately is due to a strong westerly flow from the Rocky Mountains.

"Over the last five years or so it looks to be a few degrees above normal for this time of year," he says. "We had some blips last year where it was colder than normal but overall it looks like it's a couple degrees above normal for both the Fall and into the beginning of September."

Torneby also says that weather isn't going to drastically change anytime soon.

"Looking at the seasonal outlook in the next three months, stretching out through March, it looks like it's going to keep us in a fairly warm pattern with above seasonal kind of temperatures that will probably be about two degrees above normal for all of Southern Alberta."

But Torneby was quick to point out that the snow will make its return and it could happen by the weekend.

"If it could happen it would be into Friday, but if you look into the long-term over the course of the winter, we're setting up for one of those El Niño type patterns, but that generally means for Alberta some milder conditions and a little less precipitation and snow cover during the whole winter season."

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