Warm weather arrives in Calgary and could stick around for more than a week

Calgarians can expect a bit of a reprieve from cold temperatures this week.

After a blast of winter weather hit the city for the last half of November — complete with –20 C nights and frost-coated branches — experts say the first week of December will bring balmier temperatures. 

“This warmth looks like it’s probably going to persist at least seven to 10 days,” weather expert and freelance climate journalist Kyle Brittain told CBC Radio’s the Calgary Eyeopener on Monday.

“Some of those side roads may become a little bit messier, but in general it’s just going to be more pleasant for going outside for your afternoon and evening walks.”

However, for those skiers and snowboarders who are hoping to hit the slopes, Brittain says these elevated temperatures won’t be enough to significantly melt the action in the mountains.

“Even though they’re going to be mid single digits — 5 to 6 C for daytime highs — the sun angle at this time of year is really low,” he said.

“The power of the sun is not really strong like it is later in the spring when you tend to see strong melt.”

Calgary’s forecast for Monday includes a high of 5 C with a low of 4 C overnight, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Temperatures are expected to rise to 7 C by Tuesday, and could even reach 10 C this weekend. 

Stephen Berg, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says there’s a low-pressure weather system — also often known by Calgarians as a chinook — passing through the northern prairies over the next few days, which is in part responsible for the unseasonably warm temperatures.

“This really warm period looks to last until the weekend,” Berg said.

However, Berg also says this change from bitter cold to several degrees above freezing might be a pattern for the region this winter.

He says this winter “might be two to three weeks of warmer weather … followed by another week or two of cooler weather,” bringing what’s known by meteorologists as a “variable winter” this year, which is thanks to a weak La Niña.

Berg says that because of La Niña — a climate phenomenon that typically brings lower temperatures and higher precipitation — Alberta should still expect colder and snowier conditions throughout the winter.

“That’s kind of the sense that we have right now. But given the weak pattern, it’s not necessarily a definite. There could be some other factors that come into play,” he said. 

“Determining what happens in the long term is a lot more difficult.”

Warm weather gets a warm welcome

After snow blanketed the city for two weeks, plenty of Calgarians are feeling grateful for the temperature jump.

“My fun plans are just [to] get out, do my errands, do my shopping, be able to take transit and not have to, like, freeze my butt off, basically,” Rebecca Saah told CBC News on Monday.

“Every time the winter comes, it just smacks you in the face … but you know, it is Alberta and it is winter. So all you can do is bundle up and power through.”

Meanwhile, for Christmas light installer Brandon Peterson, working outside will be a little easier this week. 

“Yesterday was so windy and chilly. Up in a 50-foot tree, it was crazy,” said Peterson.

“This is way better than last week.”

He’s been installing lights for the holidays since September, and Peterson says he was grateful for such a warm fall season, too. 

“The warm weather’s the best.”

Balmy temperatures won’t last

While temperatures are predicted to hover above zero this week, according to Brittain that’s not expected to last too long.

For those who aren’t dreading the cold, there is still something to look forward to: Brittain expects more snow and cooler temperatures on average this winter. 

“The dice are loaded for colder and snowier conditions, so that will be good for the snow pack in the Rocky Mountains, and, of course, for skiing out there in the hills in the coming weeks and months,” he said.

“That’s likely going to be the trend this winter, but, of course, anything can happen.”

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