Climate - Calgary (Canada)

The climate of Calgary is continental, with very cold winters and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta and is located at the 51st parallel, 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level, and east of the Rocky Mountains. In 1988, it hosted the Winter Olympics.
We are in the Canadian prairies, characterized by low precipitation (especially in winter) and strong variations in temperature. On the coldest days of the year, the temperature can drop to -30 °C (-22 °F) or even below. In January 1997, it dropped to -39.7 °C (-39.5 °F).
On the hottest days of the year, temperatures can reach 30 °C (86 °F), or even higher. The heat record belongs to August 2018, with 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). In 2021, the temperature reached 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) in late June and early July.
When the chinook blows, the wind that comes down from the mountains, the temperature can reach 10 °C (50 °F), and sometimes 15 °C (59 °F), even in the middle of winter.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -6.3 °C (20.7 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 17.4 °C (63.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 425 millimeters (16.7 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest months (January, February, November, December) to 80 mm (3.1 in) in the wettest (June). Summer is the rainiest season due to afternoon thunderstorms, which can be accompanied by hail.
On average, 130 cm (51 in) of snow fall per year. Typically, it can snow from late September to mid-May.
Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,395 sunshine hours per year. Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Calgary is summer, from June to August, since it is the mildest season. However, at night it can be cold, so it may be helpful to bring a jacket and sweater.

Calgary - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Calgary is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -6.3 °C (21 °F), with a minimum of -12.6 °C (9.2 °F) and a maximum of 0 °C (31.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -27.5 °C (-18 °F). However, it dropped to -39.7 °C (-39.5 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In February, the weather in Calgary is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -5.0 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -11.5 °C (11.3 °F) and a maximum of 1.5 °C (34.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -23 °C (-9.5 °F). However, it dropped to -33 °C (-27.4 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In March, the weather in Calgary is usually very cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -1.2 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -7.8 °C (18 °F) and a maximum of 5.3 °C (41.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21 °C (-5.5 °F). However, it dropped to -32.3 °C (-26.1 °F) in March 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In April, the weather in Calgary is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 4.9 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -2.2 °C (28.1 °F) and a maximum of 12 °C (53.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.4 °C (-4.7 °F) in April 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in April 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In May, the weather in Calgary is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in May 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In June, the weather in Calgary is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.1 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.8 °C (69.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in June 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) in June 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Calgary is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.8 °C (76.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 34.2 °C (93.6 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In August, the weather in Calgary is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.8 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.3 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (76 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In September, the weather in Calgary is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 4.7 °C (40.4 °F) and a maximum of 20 °C (68 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). However, it reached 33.2 °C (91.8 °F) in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In October, the weather in Calgary is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.8 °C (55.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (12.5 °F). However, it dropped to -25 °C (-13 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) in October 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In November, the weather in Calgary is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -1.3 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -7.6 °C (18.4 °F) and a maximum of 5 °C (40.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20 °C (-3.5 °F). However, it dropped to -31.3 °C (-24.3 °F) in November 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). However, it reached 23.1 °C (73.6 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In December, the weather in Calgary is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -5.6 °C (22 °F), with a minimum of -11.9 °C (10.7 °F) and a maximum of 0.6 °C (33.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -24.5 °C (-12 °F). However, it dropped to -38.2 °C (-36.8 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it reached 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in December 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).