Alberta Weather

We have a saying that goes "If you don’t like the weather in Alberta, just wait five minutes." Alberta has four distinct seasons but given it’s similar in size to Texas or three times the size of Great Britain the weather varies quite considerably from north to south and from the high western mountains to low open Prairie in the east. Be sure to read When to Visit / What to Wear before you start packing.

In summer between June and August, warm days tend to cool off closer to evening. Winters (November to February) on average are "dry cold" with heavy snowfall particularly at higher altitudes and especially in the Rockies. Rain or snow never lasts long and travel is rarely interrupted.

• Southern Alberta tends to be semi-arid with hot summers and low rainfall due to the rain-shadow effect of the Rocky Mountains.
• Warm, dry "Chinook" winds occasionally bring warmer winter weather to southwestern areas.
• The northern part of the province receives about 18 hours of daylight in the summer and tends to be colder … very cold in the winter. Perfect for viewing the northern lights (aurora borealis)!

We're ranked number one for having the most comfortable weather, overall in Canada. Alberta has more sunshine annually than anywhere in Canada (312 days). We also have the most sunny days in the winter months (115 days) and there’s a good chance you’ll spot a sundog. Sundogs are a rainbow-like ring of light usually appearing in pairs around the sun or moon (known as moondogs). They’re caused by light refracted through ice crystals. Be sure to bring sunglasses!

Select a region in the chart below to see current weather conditions and 5 day forecast.