Unusual December warmth breaks long-standing record in Edmonton
It may not feel like winter across Alberta, but we can assure you that it is indeed still winter.
El Niño has taken a hold of Western Canada's weather and has really flooded the region with mild air for the past month, as per the winter forecast issued at the end of November.
El Niño is known to cause milder-than-normal temperatures in Western Canada, and that's exactly what has happened in Alberta. What has been a bit different compared to other El Niños, however, is that no extreme cold events have shown up, mostly due to the Arctic also being very mild and a strong polar vortex that hasn't sent any shots of cold air over Canada.
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All this has led to a record for the City of Edmonton, where they have yet to see a temperature of -15°C this season! The prior record for the latest -15°C temperature was December 25th, which was set back in 1954. This means that, as of right now, 2023/2024 has set the record for the latest -15°C on record.
So, when will Edmonton see temperatures drop?
The current mild pattern is going to continue for the next five days before any cool air returns to the region, but even with that cool air for the end of next week, -15°C isn't forecast!
The second week of January looks to remain cold for Alberta, which is where we might finally see a chance for Edmonton to hit its first -15°C of the winter, but that isn't set in stone yet, and the chances aren’t all that high.
Stay with The Weather Network for your winter forecast information and updates across Alberta.
Thumbnail image courtesy of Getty Images.
