Climate of Edmonton

Edmonton has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb)[1] It falls into the NRC 4a Plant Hardiness Zone.[2]

Winters in Edmonton are typically cold and dry.

The city is among the Canadian cities with the coldest winters, though milder than Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg,[3] all of which are south of Edmonton. Its average daily temperatures range from a low of −10.4 °C (13.3 °F) in January to a summer peak of 23 °C (73.4 °F) in July.[4] With average maximum of 27 °C (80.6 °F) in July, and minimum of −14.8 °C (5.4 °F) in January.[5] Temperatures can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) for an average of four to five days anytime from late April to mid-September and fall below −20 °C (−4 °F) for an average of 24.6 days. The highest temperature recorded in Edmonton was 37.2 °C (99.0 °F), on June 29, 1937.[6] On July 2, 2013, a record high humidex of 44 was recorded, due to an unusually humid day with a temperature of 33.9 °C (93.0 °F) and a record high dew point of 23 °C (73.4 °F).[7][8] The lowest overall temperature ever recorded in Edmonton was −49.4 °C (−56.9 °F), on January 19 and 21, 1886.[9]

Summer lasts from late June until early September, and the humidity is seldom uncomfortably high. Winter lasts from November to March and varies greatly in length and severity. Spring and autumn are both short and highly variable. Edmonton's growing season is from May 9 to September 22;[4][10] Edmonton averages 135–140 frost-free days a year.[4][11] At the summer solstice, Edmonton receives 17 hours and three minutes of daylight, with an hour and 46 minutes of civil twilight.[12] On average Edmonton receives 2,299 hours of bright sunshine[13] per year and is one of Canada's sunniest cities.[4]

The summer of 2006 was a particularly warm one for Edmonton, as temperatures reached 29 °C (84 °F) or higher more than 20 times from mid-May to early September. The winter of 2011–12 was particularly warm; from December 22, 2011, till March 20, 2012, on 53 occasions Edmonton saw temperatures at or above 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) at the City Centre Airport.[14][15][16][17]

Edmonton has a fairly dry climate. On average, it receives 476.9 millimetres (18.78 in) of precipitation, of which 365.7 millimetres (14.40 in) is rain and 111.2 millimetres (4.38 in) is the melt from 123.5 centimetres (48.6 in) of snowfall per annum.[4] Precipitation is heaviest in the late spring, summer, and early autumn. The wettest month is July, while the driest months are February, March, October, and November.[4] In July the mean precipitation is 91.7 mm (3.61 in).[4] Dry spells are not uncommon and may occur at any time of the year. Extremes do occur, such as the 114 mm (4.49 in) of rainfall that fell on July 31, 1953.[4] Summer thunderstorms can be frequent and occasionally severe enough to produce large hail, damaging winds, funnel clouds, and occasionally tornadoes. Twelve tornadoes had been recorded in Edmonton between 1890 and 1989,[18] and eight since 1990.[19] A F4 tornado that struck Edmonton on July 31, 1987, killing 27, was unusual in many respects, including severity, duration, damage, and casualties.[20][21] It is commonly referred to as Black Friday due both to its aberrant characteristics and the emotional shock it generated.[22] Then-mayor Laurence Decore cited the community's response to the tornado as evidence that Edmonton was a "city of champions," which later became an unofficial slogan of the city.[23][24]

A massive cluster of thunderstorms occurred on July 11, 2004, with large hail and over 100 mm (4 in) of rain reported within the space of an hour in many places.[25] This "1-in-200 year event" flooded major intersections and underpasses and damaged both residential and commercial properties. The storm caused extensive damage to West Edmonton Mall; a small glass section of the roof collapsed under the weight of the rainwater, causing water to drain onto the mall's indoor ice rink. As a result, the mall was evacuated as a precautionary measure.[26]

Classification
Edmonton Climate according to major climate systems
Climatic scheme Initials Description
Köppen system[27][28] Dfb Warm-summer humid continental climate
Trewartha system[29][30] Dcb Continental climate

Data

Recent data
Climate data for Edmonton (Blatchford Field), elevation: 671 m or 2,201 ft, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1880–present[lower-alpha 1]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 10.6 13.8 23.5 29.2 33.4 35.9 44.0 39.6 34.1 28.3 18.9 16.0 44.0
Record high °C (°F) 13.9
(57.0)		 16.7
(62.1)		 23.9
(75.0)		 32.2
(90.0)		 34.4
(93.9)		 37.2
(99.0)		 36.7
(98.1)		 35.6
(96.1)		 33.9
(93.0)		 28.6
(83.5)		 23.3
(73.9)		 16.7
(62.1)		 37.2
(99.0)
Average high °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 2.2
(36.0)		 11.2
(52.2)		 17.5
(63.5)		 21.0
(69.8)		 23.1
(73.6)		 22.6
(72.7)		 17.1
(62.8)		 10.4
(50.7)		 0.0
(32.0)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 9.3
(48.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.4
(13.3)		 −7.6
(18.3)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 5.4
(41.7)		 11.5
(52.7)		 15.5
(59.9)		 17.7
(63.9)		 16.9
(62.4)		 11.4
(52.5)		 5.1
(41.2)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 −8.8
(16.2)		 4.2
(39.6)
Average low °C (°F) −14.8
(5.4)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 5.4
(41.7)		 9.9
(49.8)		 12.3
(54.1)		 11.3
(52.3)		 5.8
(42.4)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 −8.2
(17.2)		 −13.1
(8.4)		 −1.0
(30.2)
Record low °C (°F) −49.4
(−56.9)		 −49.4
(−56.9)		 −40.0
(−40.0)		 −26.1
(−15.0)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −26.1
(−15.0)		 −42.2
(−44.0)		 −48.3
(−54.9)		 −49.4
(−56.9)
Record low wind chill −52.8 −50.7 −44.6 −37.5 −14.5 0.0 0.0 −3.7 −13.3 −34.3 −50.2 −55.5 −55.5
Average precipitation mm (inches) 21.7
(0.85)		 12.0
(0.47)		 15.8
(0.62)		 28.8
(1.13)		 46.1
(1.81)		 77.5
(3.05)		 93.8
(3.69)		 61.9
(2.44)		 43.5
(1.71)		 21.7
(0.85)		 18.0
(0.71)		 15.0
(0.59)		 455.7
(17.94)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 1.3
(0.05)		 0.76
(0.03)		 1.7
(0.07)		 14.5
(0.57)		 40.7
(1.60)		 77.5
(3.05)		 93.8
(3.69)		 61.8
(2.43)		 42.4
(1.67)		 10.9
(0.43)		 1.6
(0.06)		 0.73
(0.03)		 347.8
(13.69)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 24.5
(9.6)		 13.4
(5.3)		 17.4
(6.9)		 15.3
(6.0)		 4.9
(1.9)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 1.0
(0.4)		 11.6
(4.6)		 19.1
(7.5)		 16.4
(6.5)		 123.5
(48.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 11.0 7.9 8.3 8.8 11.0 14.2 14.6 11.1 9.8 8.0 8.8 9.4 122.9
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 1.1 0.83 1.4 5.9 10.5 14.2 14.6 11.1 9.6 5.6 1.5 0.75 77.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 10.7 7.7 7.7 4.2 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.50 3.2 7.9 9.3 52.4
Average relative humidity (%) 65.2 61.2 56.5 42.9 40.4 48.2 52.6 51.4 50.1 50.5 64.7 65.4 54.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 100.8 121.7 176.3 244.2 279.9 285.9 307.5 282.3 192.7 170.8 98.4 84.5 2,344.8
Mean daily sunshine hours 3.3 4.3 5.7 8.1 9.0 9.5 9.9 9.1 6.4 5.5 3.3 2.7 6.4
Percent possible sunshine 40.2 44.1 48.1 58.2 56.8 56.2 60.2 61.5 50.4 52.0 37.8 36.0 50.1
Average ultraviolet index 0 1 2 4 5 6 6 5 4 2 1 0 3
Source: Environment Canada,[4][5] (July record high humidex),[7] Extremes (1880–1943)[31] and Weather Atlas[32]

Old data
Climate data for Edmonton (Blatchford Field), elevation: 668 m or 2,192 ft, 1937–1990 normals and extremes
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.7
(53.1)		 13.9
(57.0)		 20.6
(69.1)		 31.1
(88.0)		 32.3
(90.1)		 34.4
(93.9)		 34.4
(93.9)		 33.5
(92.3)		 33.9
(93.0)		 28.6
(83.5)		 21.7
(71.1)		 28.1
(82.6)		 34.4
(93.9)
Average high °C (°F) −8.2
(17.2)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 1.1
(34.0)		 10.5
(50.9)		 17.5
(63.5)		 21.3
(70.3)		 23.0
(73.4)		 22.1
(71.8)		 16.6
(61.9)		 11.3
(52.3)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 −6.3
(20.7)		 8.7
(47.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −12.5
(9.5)		 −8.9
(16.0)		 −3.6
(25.5)		 4.9
(40.8)		 11.6
(52.9)		 15.6
(60.1)		 17.5
(63.5)		 16.6
(61.9)		 11.1
(52.0)		 5.9
(42.6)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −10.5
(13.1)		 3.6
(38.5)
Average low °C (°F) −17.0
(1.4)		 −13.7
(7.3)		 −8.4
(16.9)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 5.7
(42.3)		 9.9
(49.8)		 12.0
(53.6)		 11.0
(51.8)		 5.6
(42.1)		 0.6
(33.1)		 −8.4
(16.9)		 −14.8
(5.4)		 −1.5
(29.3)
Record low °C (°F) −44.4
(−47.9)		 −46.1
(−51.0)		 −36.1
(−33.0)		 −25.6
(−14.1)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 0.6
(33.1)		 0.6
(33.1)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −25.0
(−13.0)		 −34.1
(−29.4)		 −48.3
(−54.9)		 −48.3
(−54.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23.3
(0.92)		 16.8
(0.66)		 17.0
(0.67)		 22.1
(0.87)		 43.5
(1.71)		 79.9
(3.15)		 94.3
(3.71)		 67.0
(2.64)		 41.6
(1.64)		 17.3
(0.68)		 16.1
(0.63)		 22.2
(0.87)		 461.1
(18.15)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2.0
(0.08)		 0.8
(0.03)		 2.0
(0.08)		 9.9
(0.39)		 40.5
(1.59)		 79.8
(3.14)		 94.3
(3.71)		 67.0
(2.64)		 39.9
(1.57)		 10.0
(0.39)		 2.2
(0.09)		 0.9
(0.04)		 349.3
(13.75)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 25.6
(10.1)		 19.6
(7.7)		 17.7
(7.0)		 12.8
(5.0)		 2.8
(1.1)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 1.9
(0.7)		 7.4
(2.9)		 16.3
(6.4)		 25.5
(10.0)		 129.6
(50.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 12 9 9 7 10 13 13 12 10 6 9 11 121
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 1 trace 1 4 10 13 13 12 9 4 2 1 70
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 12 9 9 4 trace trace 0 0 trace 2 8 11 55
Average relative humidity (%) 73 72 71 58 53 60 66 68 69 64 74 75 67
Mean monthly sunshine hours 95.3 116.6 170.0 238.9 278.7 283.3 305.8 280.9 184.2 164.5 101.1 77.6 2,296.9
Mean daily sunshine hours 3.1 4.1 5.5 8.0 9.0 9.4 9.9 9.1 6.1 5.3 3.4 2.5 6.3
Percent possible sunshine 38 42 46 57 57 56 60 61 48 50 39 33 49
Source: NOAA[37]

Climate change

By 2018, 73% of the city's residents were concerned about climate change. In the same year the city hosted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC): Cities and Climate Change Science Conference.[40] Edmonton has been working on the energy efficiency plan for both civilian and business people. David Dodge, co-chair of its energy transition advisory committee, said Edmonton currently emits 20 tonnes of carbon per person. There was also the financing of solar panels.[41] US $ 3.2 billion would be the impact of climate change in Edmonton by 2050, at which point the city will experience approximately sixteen days per year with temperatures exceeding 30°C and an average high of around 35°C, resulting in more heat waves.[42] The annual average temperature of 2.1°C would rise to 5.6°C or up to 8°C by 2080, with no correction according to the Climate Resilient report Edmonton: Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan. Storms, gusts of wind and freezing rain would be more frequent and cause more damage.

Notes
  1. Based on station coordinates provided by Environment Canada, climate data was collected near downtown Edmonton from July 1880 to June 1943, and at Blatchford Field from October 1937 to present.
  2. Not located within the City of Edmonton
  3. Although the figures do not complete a 30-year period required by the WMO, the averages are for the period 1981–2007.[35][36]
  4. Not located within the City of Edmonton
  5. Not located within the City of Edmonton
  6. Not located within the City of Edmonton
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