Calgary sets January temperature records as chinook warmth reshapes winter routines

Calgary is breaking January temperature records as unusually warm weather moves into the city, leading to packed patios but also raising safety concerns.

Calgarians shed winter coats and flocked to patios, driving ranges and ski hills Wednesday as record-breaking warmth swept through the city, pushing temperatures closer to spring than mid-January.

Calgary’s previous record high for Jan. 14 Calgary was 11.2 C, set in 2004.

During Wednesday’s morning commute, temperatures unofficially reached 13 C, and by mid-afternoon Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recorded an unofficial high of 17 C — roughly 20 degrees warmer than the average January high of –3 C.

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Typically, Calgary’s coldest temperature in a 24-hour period occurs just before sunrise.

With average overnight lows near –15 C at this time of year, Wednesday morning’s temperature was approximately 28 degrees warmer than what is normally expected.

Ice safety concerns after Bow River rescue

While the spring-like temperatures drew people outdoors, officials warned the warmth can create dangerous ice conditions, particularly on rivers.

Fire crews responded Sunday near Bowmont Park after a dog fell through ice on the Bow River.

One person entered the river attempting to rescue the animal, while a bystander was able to pull them to safety before crews arrived.

Firefighters assisted both individuals and conducted a search downstream, but the dog was not found.

The person who fell into the river was treated on scene and transported to hospital.

In a statement posted online, the Calgary Fire Department praised the quick actions of the bystander and reminded residents that river ice can be “extremely dangerous and unpredictable,” urging people to keep pets on a leash and stay off ice on moving water.

Calgary Fire Department public information officer Alex Kwan says warmer temperatures often bring an increase in risky behaviour around ice.

“With the changing weather conditions we’re having, the warmer temperatures generally bring out more people to do recreational activities, and we just remind everybody about the safety around ice,” Kwan said.

“Temperature is one of the variables that could impact the quality of ice,” he said, adding that “no river ice is ever safe with that current moving underneath it.”

Several City of Calgary outdoor rinks have also been closed due to inclement weather, while some community rinks have been left looking more like puddles than ice as the warm temperatures continue.

Outdoor recreation and businesses feel the boost

The mild weather has also been welcomed by local businesses and recreational facilities.

At WinSport, the unseasonable warmth has not yet disrupted ski operations.

“Springtime in the middle of January — you can’t ask for anything better,” said Dale Oviatt, WinSport’s director of marketing and communications.

“For the most part, it hasn’t impacted us yet,” he said. “The snow we have here right now will be totally fine until we get to the end of March, but we are prepared if this weather continues.”

Oviatt says warmer days also tend to attract beginner skiers.

“When it’s warm like this, they want to come out and enjoy it,” he said.

Meanwhile at Golf Fanatics, a Calgary driving range, the weather led to a noticeable surge in traffic.

“On a day like today, we don’t even need to turn the heaters on,” said Todd Halpen, director of golf at Golf Fanatics. “The place gets packed.”

Halpen says staff expect several hundred customers throughout the day.

“A day like today, we’ll get four to 500 people,” he said. “In the winter, we could have one person here when it’s –25.”

Golfer Jeff Dziedzic says the conditions were ideal for squeezing in practice time.

“You can’t beat this over a lunch break,” he said. “When it’s like this out, you should be out doing it, working on your game.”

Patios open across Calgary

Patios along 17 Avenue were filled with customers on Wednesday — a rare sight for mid-January.

At the Ship & Anchor Pub, the warm weather brought people outside.

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Evan Resnick, floor manager at the pub. “With it being so nice today, it’s no wonder we’re getting so many people out there.”

Resnick said patio days also provide a boost for the business.

“We expand the restaurant by 100 seats,” he said. “Whereas, maybe if it was –10 or –15, they’re staying in the office for lunch.”

Nearby at Trolley 5 Brew Pub, Sam McCoshen said the weather felt more like a vacation than a Calgary winter.

“I went to Mexico for Christmas, and then I got home, and it feels like I never left,” he said.

“It’s a relief from the cold weather we’re used to here.”

Chinook conditions accelerating melt across southern Alberta

According to ECCC, the weather pattern has dumped significant snow on the windward side of the Rocky Mountains, while warm, dry air descends on the Alberta side.

Those westerly winds, combined with daytime highs that have been 12 to 18 degrees warmer than average since Jan. 10, have increased evaporation and accelerated snowmelt in Calgary and surrounding areas.

January is typically the driest month of the year in Calgary.

On average, the city receives about 10 millimetres of precipitation, made up mostly of snow.

This year, ECCC data shows Calgary has recorded just 3.4 centimetres of snow so far in January — equivalent to 2.8 millimetres of total precipitation.

While snowpack remains deep in the Rockies with some mountain locations recording more than 100 to 150 centimetres of snow over a two-week period in early December, the rapid warming has introduced new hazards.

Avalanche Canada currently rates avalanche danger in the Rockies as “considerable” to “high,” warning that sustained high freezing levels are making loose wet avalanches more likely across all elevations.