Snow blankets Calgary, southern Alberta and mountain parks

Residents of Calgary and southern Alberta will find more than frost on their pumpkins heading into the long Thanksgiving weekend.

Environment Canada is forecasting snowfall ending in the early evening and periods of flurries through the holiday Monday, across southern Alberta and in the mountain parks.

• Is it snowing where you are? Send us your photos to calgaryphotos@cbc.ca, by Twitter @calgarycbc. or Facebook. 
• Snow and wind wreak havoc on roads and in the skies in Calgary and area

Rain and sleet will periodically be in the mix, with below-seasonal temperatures ranging from lows around -2 C to highs of 4 C. Winds of up to 40 km/h are also predicted from High River to Drumheller.

As much as we're surprised by the first snow of the season, this is by no means considered an early snowfall. In case you missed it, there have been two snowfalls since August, one in the mountains and the other in western Alberta.

But this is the first within the city limits of Calgary since last winter. 

And it was also a big first for a mother and daughter visiting the Calgary Zoo.

"This is our first time in Calgary, and this is our first time [seeing] real snow because we're from Hawaii.  We're very happy," said mother Anna Tolosa.

Meanwhile, the City of Calgary transportation department was trying to put drivers' minds at ease telling everyone "It's going to be OK." They were out de-icing bridge decks around the city. 

Calgarians reacted on social media with variety of emotions that ranged from taking it in stride to genuine surprise. 

The extended forecast for southern Alberta is predicting more fall-like weather by mid-week with temperatures in the teens.