Climate

It’s easy to see that southern Alberta gets its fair share of sunshine. On any given day, the wide blue sky dominates the landscape. Visitors from other parts of world often comment about our big sky and wide, open spaces.

A steady westerly breeze keeps the air fresh and the sky clear. Any change in the wind direction is usually associated with a change in the weather. Lethbridge is not all dry prairie, we get just enough moisture to green the coulees (the Oldman River Valley) and allow for thick urban forests of poplar, elm and birch to grow.

• Average Annual Snowfall = 130.5 cm (51.4 inches)
• Average Annual Rainfall = 271.1 mm (10.7 inches)
• Average annual hours of bright sunshine = 2,506 (1971-2000 period)

Lethbridge Climate Normals	Print  PDF  E-Mail  Add

In summer, warm sunshine dries the air and calms the wind. High temperatures average in the mid-20s degrees Celsius.

In winter, cold snaps in the minus teens are frequently broken by Chinooks – the warm and moist westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean. It melts the snow and ice. Winter visitors from other northern cities often comment about our clean sparkling snow – that’s because the snow usually doesn’t last long.

Lethbridge's Top 20 'Weather Winners'	Print  PDF  E-Mail  Add

Climate Severity Index	Print  PDF  E-Mail  Add