EDMONTON – Sunny and warm for the next few days in Edmonton and area.

In fact, most of central and northern Alberta will be average to slightly above average for daytime highs the next few days.

In Edmonton, that means highs above 10 degrees (which is average).

We’ll get to the 12 to 15 degree range today, tomorrow and Friday.

BUT…the wind will be a factor today and probably again on Friday.

Thursday looks calm. However, we’re in for gusts in the 40 to 50 km/h range today and Friday in Edmonton and area.

Our next best chance at getting some precipitation comes on Saturday.

The timing for this keeps “backing up” as we get closer to the weekend.

So, it’s now looking like it could move in early Saturday morning and potentially stick around all day.

I think it’s still a bit too early to talk about potential rainfall amounts. But, this could be a good soaker for parts of central and north-central Alberta.

AND…although most (probably all) of it will fall as rain…I don’t think you can rule out the risk of some wet snow mixed in at times.

We’ll continue to watch that as we approach the weekend.

After Saturday, temperatures look like they’ll rebound to highs near or slightly above 10 degrees Sunday-Tuesday.

Here’s the forecast for Edmonton:

Today – Mainly sunny. Wind: SE 20 gusting to 50

High: 13

Tonight – A few clouds. Wind easing.

9pm: 9

Thursday – Mainly sunny. Light wind.

Morning Low: 1

Afternoon High: 12

Friday – Sunny with a few clouds. Breezy.

Morning Low: 2

Afternoon High: 13

Saturday – Mostly cloudy. 60% chance of showers or periods of rain.

Risk of some wet flurries mixed in.

Morning Low: 2

Afternoon High: 8

Sunday – Mix of sun & cloud.

Morning Low: 0

Afternoon High: 10

Monday – Mix of sun & cloud.

Morning Low: 1

Afternoon High: 12  

EDMONTON – Premier Jason Kenney announced new rules will be put in place to protect residents and staff at continuing care facilities on Oct. 25.

The province announced 531 new COVID-19 cases after 8,030 tests on Oct. 18. There are currently 11,402 active cases in the province.

There are 964 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 218 in intensive care.

“I would like to thank Albertans for all that they have done to push down the fourth wave,” said Kenney.

Kenney also said that there does not seem to have been a jump in cases due to Thanksgiving gatherings, despite previous long weekends resulting in increases.

“Although we need to keep watching over the next few days, as it’s a little too early to see, completely, the full impact,” said Kenney.

CONTINUING CARE FACILITIES

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said that visitors in continuing care facilities will be required to wear masks in all areas of the facilities.

“The only exception will be where there are significant communication challenges, such as a resident being hard of hearing, or an individual with dementia,” said Hinshaw.

Hinshaw also announced new quarantine rules for residents being admitted to a facility from acute care or returning from a hospital if they stayed for more than 24 hours. It will last until a negative COVID-19 test is received.

“I will also be sending a letter out, strongly encouraging families and friends who are not fully vaccinated to not visit or attend to residents in person,” added Hinshaw. “I know this will impact residents in different ways, but it is very important to protect residents and staff from COVID-19.

“While this is a recommendation, in the letter I will also reinforce that operators have the authority to implement additional mandatory measures in their facilities as appropriate, in consultation with their residents and families. This could include requirements for proof of vaccination or rapid tests for visitors entering the site.”

ICU DEMAND STILL HIGH

Kenney and Dr. Verna Yiu, the president and CEO of Alberta Health Services, announced that the number of Albertans in the ICU has decreased, but the need for those beds has stayed high.

“This is partially due to our decision to increase the number of surgeries that our teams are performing each week,” said Yiu. “As pressures from COVID decrease, we’re able to use more of our ICU beds for their intended purpose.

“Many Albertans have had their surgeries and procedures delayed over the past two months and we need to look after those people as soon as we can.”

There are 203 surge ICU beds in the province and Yiu announced that number will be decreased incrementally in the coming weeks.

“We will ensure that we maintain ICU capacity above daily demand to the maximum we can, given available staff and physicians and a return to more usual levels of surgical care,” said Yiu

There are still more Albertans in hospital with COVID-19 currently than at the peak of any previous wave, according to Kenney.

“It’ll take many weeks for this to decline significantly,” added Kenney.

EDMONTON – CTV News declared Keren Tang as the winner in Karhiio after 72.7 per cent of the polls reported.

As of publication, Tang led the ward with 39.7 per cent of the vote.

Tom Shaw was in second with 30.2 per cent, followed by Shamair Turner who garnered 12.3 per cent.

Of the remaining candidates, the order was Charan Saggu, Sana Kakar, and Muhammad Herman Gill. None of them had received more than nine per cent of the vote.

In an interview with CTV News Edmonton, Tang said she was proud to be Edmonton’s first woman of colour elected to city council.

Keren Tang thanked her supporters Monday night after being declared the winner by CTV News, marking Edmonton’s first woman of colour elected to city council (CTV News Edmonton).

“It is incredibly exciting,” she said. “It sends a strong message that Edmonton is ready, that we are ready for a diverse council to make meaningful decisions.”

This was her second time running in the ward. Tang added that she is ready to ensure that Karhiio is not left behind while promoting a strong business environment, vibrant neighbourhoods, and addressing climate change.

EDMONTON – Just dozens of votes separate the councillor-elect in Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi and her closest competitor, Rhiannon Hoyle.

However, with all of the polls reporting, the race appeared in Jennifer Rice’s favour as of midnight.

According to the unofficial results, Rice, a public servant and former professor, received 32.4 per cent — or 5,831 ballots — of the vote.

Hoyle, a University of Alberta senator, received 32.18 per cent of the vote, or 5,792 ballots.

Special ballots still needed to be counted Tuesday. 

At midnight, Scott Johnston trailed behind the leaders with 11.68 per cent of the vote, then Glynnis Lieb with 9.78 per cent, Jon Morgan 9.6 per cent, and Jason Carter with 4.36 per cent.

The counts are Edmonton Elections’ unofficial results; they will be verified in the coming days.

EDMONTON – Incumbent councillor Bev Esslinger lost her seat in Edmonton’s Anirniq ward to newcomer Erin Rutherford Monday night.

The close race between the women in the city’s northwest corner was called at midnight.

With all of the polls reporting, final counts placed Rutherford with 26.14 per cent of the vote and Esslinger with 24.66 per cent.

Rutherford’s lead over Esslinger consisted of 266 votes.

Competing candidates Tyler Zutz and Ali Haymour did not finish far behind, with 22 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.

Mark Davies received 1,285 votes, or 7.1 per cent of ballots cast.

The counts are Edmonton Elections’ unofficial results; they will be verified in the coming days.