Calgary hit a high of 12.8 C on Tuesday, making the city Canada’s “hot spot” for Jan. 29, 2025.
Tuesday was also the 10th day in a row where Calgary posted temperatures well above the average high of -3 C to -2 C.
Since Jan. 20, the highs have ranged from 0 C to 12.8 C, with five days above 5 C including three days at or above 10 C.
The main weather-maker over the past week was a strong ridge of high pressure in the Pacific basin held in place by a blocking pattern; a low pressure system south of the high.
That low has started to migrate into the U.S. and is opening things up for a cold air infusion that will impact nearly all of Canada and portions of the Northern U.S.
By Saturday, a low pressure system in the northeastern Pacific will help enhance this process by migrating toward the southern B.C. coastline.
As it does temperatures will plummet, with Friday’s low in Calgary of -9 C becoming Saturday’s high early in the morning before the temperature continues to drop throughout the day.
From Saturday afternoon, until at least Tuesday, Calgary is likely to sit at or below -20 C with windchill values making it feel colder than that.
Snow is also expected across Alberta starting Thursday, with the potential for significant accumulations and dangerous driving conditions.
The areas most at-risk include the corridor from Hinton-Whitecourt, central Alberta and potentially southern Alberta.
Conservatively Calgary is expected to see one to two centimetres of snow, but there is a chance the totals could be closer to five to 10 centimetres, depending how the system crosses the Rockies on Friday.
Winds will be strong as this colder air moves in, making areas with snow likely to experience compromised visibility.
Some weather warnings – including snowfall warnings – could be issued as more forecast certainty is gained closer to the weekend.
