The May long forecast is out for Alberta and it's looking wet

The May long weekend in Alberta can swing from big snow dumps to early-summer heat, and this year it looks like the province is heading toward the chilly end of that spectrum.

Daily Hive spoke with Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), to find out what Albertans expect heading into the long weekend. 

Climenhaga says that while we’ve been seeing some above-average temperatures over the past week, a cooldown is on the way.

“We’re expecting a larger system bringing in some wet weather and some windy weather through the mid to late week,” she said.

The chilly weather is set to continue through the weekend, bringing temperatures that are anywhere from five to 10° below seasonal averages, with highs reaching around 10°C to 12°C. Climenhaga says the average high around this time of year is 17°C.

If you’re not the type who likes waking up in a soggy tent, you may want to take shelter this long weekend, as another system is being eyed that could bring some “soggy” conditions with it.

“It’s a little early to say exactly where and how much, but just something to keep in the back of your mind if you have outdoor plans,” Climenhaga said. 

While it might feel like a bit of a downgrade in weather, there’s at least one silver lining: snow doesn’t look like it will be much of a factor for most of the province.

Climenhaga says that if you’re heading into the mountains, there is still a slight chance of snow in the higher elevations, but for cities like Edmonton and Calgary, rain is expected to be the main concern if wet weather develops.

If you’re still itching to get out for a May long camping trip, we’ve rounded up 14 Alberta camping spots to check out this weekend.