The wind that changes everything
A chinook is a warm, dry wind that drops down the eastern slopes of the Rockies. When one arrives, a bitter morning can turn mild by lunch, and snow on south-facing yards can vanish in a day. You can often see it coming: a clean band of blue sky under a long arch of cloud to the west — the chinook arch.
Dress for the swing
Calgarians layer because the forecast can move twenty degrees in a few hours. Pack a toque even on a warm afternoon, and expect melt-water on sidewalks to refreeze after dark. The Environment Canada forecast is the one to trust for warnings.
Snow days, parking bans and rinks
After a big snowfall the City works through priority routes first and may call a snow-route parking ban. Community and City rinks open once the cold settles in — check conditions before you lace up.
Official sources
- Calgary weather forecastEnvironment Canada’s official forecast and warnings.weather.gc.ca
- Snow & ice clearingPlowing updates, snow routes and parking bans.calgary.ca
- Outdoor skating rinksRink locations and live ice conditions.calgary.ca
- Kananaskis CountryInformation and facilities for the mountains west of the city.albertaparks.ca
- Chinook BlastWinter festival of lights, art and events downtown.chinookblast.ca