BRITISH COLUMBIA

Oct. 23-29:Generally fair but with some coastal rain changing to occasional rain or snow elsewhere. Seasonal to cool and blustery at times.

Oct. 30-Nov. 5:Variable temperatures from mild to colder. Some rain in western zones this week turning to snow in the north and east. Chance of heavy snow in the mountains.

Nov. 6-12:Occasional rain in the west and windy at times. Intermittent snow inland, heavy at a few locations. Cool although a few highs reach near 10 west.

Nov. 13-19:Milder fair-weather days on the coast will alternate with dull, wet, cool conditions. Seasonal elsewhere with occasional heavier snow or flurries.

Nov. 20-26:Windy days bring alternating mild, fair conditions along with cool, unsettled weather. Periodic rain west with snow inland, heavy in places.

ALBERTA

Oct. 23-29:Temperatures fluctuate from mild to cool with a few sub-zero lows. Blustery. Fair but rain or snow on a couple of days, heavy in places.

Oct. 30-Nov. 5:Expect changeable conditions this week with occasional snow, heavy in a few areas. Some rain south with highs well above zero.

Nov. 6-12:Generally fair but snow, at times heavy in places on two or three days, mixed with rain south. Variable temperatures often trending to the cold side.

Nov. 13-19:Windy from time to time with temperatures varying from mild to cold. Fair on several days but with heavier snow in a few localities.

Nov. 20-26:Mild spells in the south alternate with colder outbreaks and intermittent snow. Windy at times with higher windchills. Frequent heavy snow north.

SASKATCHEWAN

Oct. 23-29:Occasional snow in a few areas, except scattered rain in the south. On fair days temperatures average near to above normal. Cooler north.

Oct. 30-Nov. 5:Fair but snow on two or three days, heavy in a few places. Some rain south. Blustery. Temperatures vary from mild to cool with sub-zero lows.

Nov. 6-12:Seasonal to occasionally mild temperatures but colder, windy outbreaks bring occasional snow, mixed with rain in the south.

Nov. 13-19:Colder in the north with snow. Changeable in the south as fair skies interchange with snow, heavy in a few places. Seasonal to mild.

Nov. 20-26:Often fair with milder temperatures but a couple of windy outbreaks bring snow and higher wind chills. Heavier snow central and north.

MANITOBA

Oct. 23-29:Fair and seasonable overall but snow falls on a few days this week, changing to rain in the south. Cooler and chance of heavy snow central and north.

Oct. 30-Nov. 5:Unsettled at times as fair skies are interrupted by snow, heavy in a few central and northern areas. Scattered rain south. Seasonal to mild.

Nov. 6-12:Generally fair south with melting temperatures at times. Intermittent snow, mixed with rain south, heavier snow central and north.

Nov. 13-19:Fair apart from two or three days with snow, heavy in a few areas. Variable temperatures and windy at times. Colder north with periodic heavy snow.

Nov. 20-26:Blustery winds bring variable temperatures with a few higher wind chill days. Cloudy with scattered snow, heavy in a few localities.

October 23 to November 26, 2011

NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Early indications are that a developing La Nia may bring a colder and snowier than normal winter to British Columbia and the Prairies in 2012. Before then, the changeover of seasons will see more frequent inclement weather with cold, blustery outbreaks. This will be especially noticeable in eastern portions of British Columbia, across the Prairies, and in southern regions of Ontario and Quebec as well as the Atlantic Provinces. In the far West a cool, wet circulation off the Pacific is likely to bring cooler and wetter conditions than normal. Less frequent harsh conditions are expected in northern portions of Ontario and Quebec and in the eastern Arctic. In those areas, temperatures should run a little above normal with average precipitation. Snowfall is anticipated in most areas in all but the far west and the far east regions.

Prepared by meteorologist Larry Romaniuk of Weatherite Services. Forecasts should be 80 per cent accurate for your area; expect variations by a day or two due to changeable speed of weather systems.