Alberta can get very cold in the peak winter months of January and February. Especially the further North you go.
This question can be answered in a couple of ways, such as coldest ever on record, and average temperatures.
How cold does it usually get in Alberta Winter?
A typical January or February winter day ranges from -5 to -15°C (23 to 5°F), with occasional drops of -30 to -40°C (-22 to -40°F).
What is the coldest day in Alberta history?
The coldest day ever recorded in Alberta is -61.1 Celsius (-77.98 Fahrenheit), on January 11th, 1911.
How Long Do Winters Last in Alberta?
Every year is a bit different, but an official Alberta winter is 4 months long.
Generally speaking, you can expect typical winter characteristics (snow, sleet, cold temperatures etc) to begin some time around Halloween (End of October) and leading towards Christmas.
You can expect spring characteristics (melting snow, fewer cold days) to begin around March and April.
Is Alberta the Coldest Province?
No, Alberta is not the coldest province in Canada. Nunavut is officially the the coldest of all the provinces and territories in Canada.
This is based on average annual temperatures.
In Summary
- Alberta gets as cold as -40 Celsius to -50 Celsius with the wind chill.
- These super cold days tend to only be in short bursts throughout the winter, with warmer days breaking up the pattern.
