chris - sᴉɹɥɔ
@yegwxnerdery.bsky.social
Weather nerdery for Edmonton Alberta, with side discussions of nearby rural stations, and other big Canadian cities.
...and that brings us to the end of Part 2 of our look at Edmonton winters.
All of these dashboards are interactive, and have similar snow data for 17 Canadian cities.
edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2025/11/were...
All of these dashboards are interactive, and have similar snow data for 17 Canadian cities.
edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2025/11/were...
Edmonton's Winters - the Good, the Bad, and the Data (Part 2)
Weather history for Edmonton Alberta, from a year-round active-commuter. Trends and records for the northernmost city of 1M people in North America.
edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...and that brings us to the end of Part 2 of our look at Edmonton winters.
All of these dashboards are interactive, and have similar snow data for 17 Canadian cities.
edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2025/11/were...
All of these dashboards are interactive, and have similar snow data for 17 Canadian cities.
edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2025/11/were...
...And finally, it always feels surprising when it happens, but winter rain is not completely rare in Edmonton.
In December-February we average around 3 rainy days.
2024-2025 had 6 of them, and 2014-2015 had 11, while a lot of others only had 1 or 2.
public.tableau.com/shared/8PJMB...
In December-February we average around 3 rainy days.
2024-2025 had 6 of them, and 2014-2015 had 11, while a lot of others only had 1 or 2.
public.tableau.com/shared/8PJMB...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...And finally, it always feels surprising when it happens, but winter rain is not completely rare in Edmonton.
In December-February we average around 3 rainy days.
2024-2025 had 6 of them, and 2014-2015 had 11, while a lot of others only had 1 or 2.
public.tableau.com/shared/8PJMB...
In December-February we average around 3 rainy days.
2024-2025 had 6 of them, and 2014-2015 had 11, while a lot of others only had 1 or 2.
public.tableau.com/shared/8PJMB...
...this is just a fun chart showing the full recorded history of snowdepths for a few stations.
The darkest years are the ones with the highest peaks, and Charlottetown has a lot of them.
public.tableau.com/shared/9M82J...
The darkest years are the ones with the highest peaks, and Charlottetown has a lot of them.
public.tableau.com/shared/9M82J...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...this is just a fun chart showing the full recorded history of snowdepths for a few stations.
The darkest years are the ones with the highest peaks, and Charlottetown has a lot of them.
public.tableau.com/shared/9M82J...
The darkest years are the ones with the highest peaks, and Charlottetown has a lot of them.
public.tableau.com/shared/9M82J...
...in the fall Edmonton's snow gets started earlier than other cities.
But for the big spring melt we're not that different.
We can be snowfree by mid to late March, or we can drag into April. And that's true for a lot of places.
public.tableau.com/shared/7P59Y...
But for the big spring melt we're not that different.
We can be snowfree by mid to late March, or we can drag into April. And that's true for a lot of places.
public.tableau.com/shared/7P59Y...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...in the fall Edmonton's snow gets started earlier than other cities.
But for the big spring melt we're not that different.
We can be snowfree by mid to late March, or we can drag into April. And that's true for a lot of places.
public.tableau.com/shared/7P59Y...
But for the big spring melt we're not that different.
We can be snowfree by mid to late March, or we can drag into April. And that's true for a lot of places.
public.tableau.com/shared/7P59Y...
...the east coast also gets started a month later than us, and gets melts throughout the winter.
A lot of these years peak around 50cm.
But St. John's got to 125cm in 2019-2020, and in 2014-2015 Moncton & Charlottetown both got above 150cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/GQ5RG...
A lot of these years peak around 50cm.
But St. John's got to 125cm in 2019-2020, and in 2014-2015 Moncton & Charlottetown both got above 150cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/GQ5RG...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...the east coast also gets started a month later than us, and gets melts throughout the winter.
A lot of these years peak around 50cm.
But St. John's got to 125cm in 2019-2020, and in 2014-2015 Moncton & Charlottetown both got above 150cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/GQ5RG...
A lot of these years peak around 50cm.
But St. John's got to 125cm in 2019-2020, and in 2014-2015 Moncton & Charlottetown both got above 150cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/GQ5RG...
...Snowdepth in central Canada usually starts closer to the beginning of December.
But where Edmonton usually peaks around 35cm, Ottawa & Quebec City will often get to 50cm, and sometimes up to 80cm or 90cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/SWPFR...
But where Edmonton usually peaks around 35cm, Ottawa & Quebec City will often get to 50cm, and sometimes up to 80cm or 90cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/SWPFR...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...Snowdepth in central Canada usually starts closer to the beginning of December.
But where Edmonton usually peaks around 35cm, Ottawa & Quebec City will often get to 50cm, and sometimes up to 80cm or 90cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/SWPFR...
But where Edmonton usually peaks around 35cm, Ottawa & Quebec City will often get to 50cm, and sometimes up to 80cm or 90cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/SWPFR...
...for comparison, Calgary is very different from us, with their frequent chinooks keeping the snowdepth low or zero for most of the winter.
Saskatoon, Regina & Winnipeg all tend to keep their snow, like Edmonton. But they also often start a few weeks after us.
public.tableau.com/shared/39FD2...
Saskatoon, Regina & Winnipeg all tend to keep their snow, like Edmonton. But they also often start a few weeks after us.
public.tableau.com/shared/39FD2...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...for comparison, Calgary is very different from us, with their frequent chinooks keeping the snowdepth low or zero for most of the winter.
Saskatoon, Regina & Winnipeg all tend to keep their snow, like Edmonton. But they also often start a few weeks after us.
public.tableau.com/shared/39FD2...
Saskatoon, Regina & Winnipeg all tend to keep their snow, like Edmonton. But they also often start a few weeks after us.
public.tableau.com/shared/39FD2...
...so we will usually have snow on the ground from mid-November to late-March, +/- two weeks on either end.
On average that's around 130 days in-a-row.
And that hasn't changed much since the 60s, and it wasn't too different between the city and the airport.
public.tableau.com/shared/YJTSH...
On average that's around 130 days in-a-row.
And that hasn't changed much since the 60s, and it wasn't too different between the city and the airport.
public.tableau.com/shared/YJTSH...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...so we will usually have snow on the ground from mid-November to late-March, +/- two weeks on either end.
On average that's around 130 days in-a-row.
And that hasn't changed much since the 60s, and it wasn't too different between the city and the airport.
public.tableau.com/shared/YJTSH...
On average that's around 130 days in-a-row.
And that hasn't changed much since the 60s, and it wasn't too different between the city and the airport.
public.tableau.com/shared/YJTSH...
...for the big spring melt we're often down to 0cm of snowdepth by the end of March, although sometimes a late snowfall will bump it up again temporarily.
Some recent late years were 2021 on April 21st, 2018 on April 20th, 2013 on April 25, and 2011 on April 21st.
public.tableau.com/shared/44K2G...
Some recent late years were 2021 on April 21st, 2018 on April 20th, 2013 on April 25, and 2011 on April 21st.
public.tableau.com/shared/44K2G...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...for the big spring melt we're often down to 0cm of snowdepth by the end of March, although sometimes a late snowfall will bump it up again temporarily.
Some recent late years were 2021 on April 21st, 2018 on April 20th, 2013 on April 25, and 2011 on April 21st.
public.tableau.com/shared/44K2G...
Some recent late years were 2021 on April 21st, 2018 on April 20th, 2013 on April 25, and 2011 on April 21st.
public.tableau.com/shared/44K2G...
...so far the winter of 2025-2026 is off to a pretty slow start for lasting snow.
2024 waited until November 22nd, and 2023 was December 3rd.
But 2021, 2016, 2015, 2011 & 2010 also all waited until mid-November or later.
public.tableau.com/shared/PYHD7...
2024 waited until November 22nd, and 2023 was December 3rd.
But 2021, 2016, 2015, 2011 & 2010 also all waited until mid-November or later.
public.tableau.com/shared/PYHD7...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...so far the winter of 2025-2026 is off to a pretty slow start for lasting snow.
2024 waited until November 22nd, and 2023 was December 3rd.
But 2021, 2016, 2015, 2011 & 2010 also all waited until mid-November or later.
public.tableau.com/shared/PYHD7...
2024 waited until November 22nd, and 2023 was December 3rd.
But 2021, 2016, 2015, 2011 & 2010 also all waited until mid-November or later.
public.tableau.com/shared/PYHD7...
...the outlying stations aren't a perfect proxy for the city, but they're not bad.
Back when Blatchford did measure snowdepth it's numbers were maybe a little bit lower than the airport's, but it's still pretty close.
public.tableau.com/shared/32B28...
Back when Blatchford did measure snowdepth it's numbers were maybe a little bit lower than the airport's, but it's still pretty close.
public.tableau.com/shared/32B28...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...the outlying stations aren't a perfect proxy for the city, but they're not bad.
Back when Blatchford did measure snowdepth it's numbers were maybe a little bit lower than the airport's, but it's still pretty close.
public.tableau.com/shared/32B28...
Back when Blatchford did measure snowdepth it's numbers were maybe a little bit lower than the airport's, but it's still pretty close.
public.tableau.com/shared/32B28...
...every winter is a little different though.
When we do get early snow in Sep/Oct, it usually melts off.
But after November 1st any snow that we get usually hangs around until spring.
public.tableau.com/shared/76FSM...
When we do get early snow in Sep/Oct, it usually melts off.
But after November 1st any snow that we get usually hangs around until spring.
public.tableau.com/shared/76FSM...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...every winter is a little different though.
When we do get early snow in Sep/Oct, it usually melts off.
But after November 1st any snow that we get usually hangs around until spring.
public.tableau.com/shared/76FSM...
When we do get early snow in Sep/Oct, it usually melts off.
But after November 1st any snow that we get usually hangs around until spring.
public.tableau.com/shared/76FSM...
...this shows the average and the range of our winter snowdepth.
It starts around November 1st, and levels off at the end of February around 24cm.
The big spring melt starts a week into March, and we (or at least the airport) are down to 0cm sometime in April.
public.tableau.com/views/Edmont...
It starts around November 1st, and levels off at the end of February around 24cm.
The big spring melt starts a week into March, and we (or at least the airport) are down to 0cm sometime in April.
public.tableau.com/views/Edmont...
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
...this shows the average and the range of our winter snowdepth.
It starts around November 1st, and levels off at the end of February around 24cm.
The big spring melt starts a week into March, and we (or at least the airport) are down to 0cm sometime in April.
public.tableau.com/views/Edmont...
It starts around November 1st, and levels off at the end of February around 24cm.
The big spring melt starts a week into March, and we (or at least the airport) are down to 0cm sometime in April.
public.tableau.com/views/Edmont...
...this is the 50cm+ 2-day storms for these cities.
Charelottown's biggest on record was 153cm in 2004, and St. John's was close with 152cm.
Ottawa & Halifax are both around 75cm, and Montréal's was 58cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/4Q6RT...
Charelottown's biggest on record was 153cm in 2004, and St. John's was close with 152cm.
Ottawa & Halifax are both around 75cm, and Montréal's was 58cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/4Q6RT...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...this is the 50cm+ 2-day storms for these cities.
Charelottown's biggest on record was 153cm in 2004, and St. John's was close with 152cm.
Ottawa & Halifax are both around 75cm, and Montréal's was 58cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/4Q6RT...
Charelottown's biggest on record was 153cm in 2004, and St. John's was close with 152cm.
Ottawa & Halifax are both around 75cm, and Montréal's was 58cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/4Q6RT...
...In 140+ years Edmonton has only had a handful of 40cm+ storms. Calgary has had a few more than that.
Ottawa & Montréal got a lot before 1900, but now they're pretty rare.
But Halifax still gets 1 in most winters, and Charlottetown gets a few every winter.
public.tableau.com/shared/KBPBQ...
Ottawa & Montréal got a lot before 1900, but now they're pretty rare.
But Halifax still gets 1 in most winters, and Charlottetown gets a few every winter.
public.tableau.com/shared/KBPBQ...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...In 140+ years Edmonton has only had a handful of 40cm+ storms. Calgary has had a few more than that.
Ottawa & Montréal got a lot before 1900, but now they're pretty rare.
But Halifax still gets 1 in most winters, and Charlottetown gets a few every winter.
public.tableau.com/shared/KBPBQ...
Ottawa & Montréal got a lot before 1900, but now they're pretty rare.
But Halifax still gets 1 in most winters, and Charlottetown gets a few every winter.
public.tableau.com/shared/KBPBQ...
...20cm 2-day storms only happen every few years, with the most recent March 27-28, 2025.
For 10cm storms we'll get 1 or 2 per winter.
And for 5cm storms it's 4~8.
public.tableau.com/shared/Y68DY...
For 10cm storms we'll get 1 or 2 per winter.
And for 5cm storms it's 4~8.
public.tableau.com/shared/Y68DY...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...20cm 2-day storms only happen every few years, with the most recent March 27-28, 2025.
For 10cm storms we'll get 1 or 2 per winter.
And for 5cm storms it's 4~8.
public.tableau.com/shared/Y68DY...
For 10cm storms we'll get 1 or 2 per winter.
And for 5cm storms it's 4~8.
public.tableau.com/shared/Y68DY...
...these bubbles are all of the 30cm+ storms (counting 2 consecutive days, to include snow that continues overnight).
There have only been 14 of them since 1880 at the two stations.
4 of those got to 40cm, with the largest on April 19-20 1955 with 46cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/D452Q...
There have only been 14 of them since 1880 at the two stations.
4 of those got to 40cm, with the largest on April 19-20 1955 with 46cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/D452Q...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...these bubbles are all of the 30cm+ storms (counting 2 consecutive days, to include snow that continues overnight).
There have only been 14 of them since 1880 at the two stations.
4 of those got to 40cm, with the largest on April 19-20 1955 with 46cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/D452Q...
There have only been 14 of them since 1880 at the two stations.
4 of those got to 40cm, with the largest on April 19-20 1955 with 46cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/D452Q...
...compared to Edmonton, many of the other cities get a lot more snow over a much shorter period of time.
public.tableau.com/shared/NSJH6...
public.tableau.com/shared/NSJH6...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...compared to Edmonton, many of the other cities get a lot more snow over a much shorter period of time.
public.tableau.com/shared/NSJH6...
public.tableau.com/shared/NSJH6...
...so Edmonton gets less snow than other cities, but we get it over a longer period of time.
We might go 200 days between first and last snowfalls, and Calgary is closer to 220.
But in central Canada and the east coast 150 days is more typical.
public.tableau.com/shared/JCRZS...
We might go 200 days between first and last snowfalls, and Calgary is closer to 220.
But in central Canada and the east coast 150 days is more typical.
public.tableau.com/shared/JCRZS...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...so Edmonton gets less snow than other cities, but we get it over a longer period of time.
We might go 200 days between first and last snowfalls, and Calgary is closer to 220.
But in central Canada and the east coast 150 days is more typical.
public.tableau.com/shared/JCRZS...
We might go 200 days between first and last snowfalls, and Calgary is closer to 220.
But in central Canada and the east coast 150 days is more typical.
public.tableau.com/shared/JCRZS...
...for most of these cities the snow totals have stayed pretty level over the years.
Montréal is the biggest exception, falling from 320cm down to 210cm.
(St. John's saw a big jump in 1940, possibly due to a station move? But it's been flat since then)
public.tableau.com/shared/KBJGZ...
Montréal is the biggest exception, falling from 320cm down to 210cm.
(St. John's saw a big jump in 1940, possibly due to a station move? But it's been flat since then)
public.tableau.com/shared/KBJGZ...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...for most of these cities the snow totals have stayed pretty level over the years.
Montréal is the biggest exception, falling from 320cm down to 210cm.
(St. John's saw a big jump in 1940, possibly due to a station move? But it's been flat since then)
public.tableau.com/shared/KBJGZ...
Montréal is the biggest exception, falling from 320cm down to 210cm.
(St. John's saw a big jump in 1940, possibly due to a station move? But it's been flat since then)
public.tableau.com/shared/KBJGZ...
...of Canada's winter cities, Edmonton's 125cm of snow (or ~110cm recently) is near the bottom.
Winnipeg doesn't record anymore, but was also around 120cm. And Calgary is around 145cm.
But the east coast cities are all over 200cm, and Charlottetown is near 500cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/CHC6F...
Winnipeg doesn't record anymore, but was also around 120cm. And Calgary is around 145cm.
But the east coast cities are all over 200cm, and Charlottetown is near 500cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/CHC6F...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...of Canada's winter cities, Edmonton's 125cm of snow (or ~110cm recently) is near the bottom.
Winnipeg doesn't record anymore, but was also around 120cm. And Calgary is around 145cm.
But the east coast cities are all over 200cm, and Charlottetown is near 500cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/CHC6F...
Winnipeg doesn't record anymore, but was also around 120cm. And Calgary is around 145cm.
But the east coast cities are all over 200cm, and Charlottetown is near 500cm.
public.tableau.com/shared/CHC6F...
...so we get snowfall pretty consistently for November through April. Although some winters will have an early start, or a late end, or both.
public.tableau.com/shared/Z2P3J...
public.tableau.com/shared/Z2P3J...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...so we get snowfall pretty consistently for November through April. Although some winters will have an early start, or a late end, or both.
public.tableau.com/shared/Z2P3J...
public.tableau.com/shared/Z2P3J...
...historically our first fall snow has been around mid-October, although recently it's been a bit later
The average final spring snowfall is around the end of April.
And so from the first snowfall of winter to the last we average right around 200 days.
public.tableau.com/shared/ZDP43...
The average final spring snowfall is around the end of April.
And so from the first snowfall of winter to the last we average right around 200 days.
public.tableau.com/shared/ZDP43...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...historically our first fall snow has been around mid-October, although recently it's been a bit later
The average final spring snowfall is around the end of April.
And so from the first snowfall of winter to the last we average right around 200 days.
public.tableau.com/shared/ZDP43...
The average final spring snowfall is around the end of April.
And so from the first snowfall of winter to the last we average right around 200 days.
public.tableau.com/shared/ZDP43...
...in terms of snowy days, November-March average 8 or 9 of them, with January peaking at 10.
For April it's 5, and October is 4.
public.tableau.com/shared/F6QG2...
For April it's 5, and October is 4.
public.tableau.com/shared/F6QG2...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...in terms of snowy days, November-March average 8 or 9 of them, with January peaking at 10.
For April it's 5, and October is 4.
public.tableau.com/shared/F6QG2...
For April it's 5, and October is 4.
public.tableau.com/shared/F6QG2...
...snow is also possible in June, August & September, but those are uncommon.
The airport's last June snow was 1.4cm in 2011.
For August it was 0.1cm in 2016.
September is a little snowier, with a record 38.4cm in 2018, and smaller snowfalls in 2014 & 2004.
public.tableau.com/shared/TJMK9...
The airport's last June snow was 1.4cm in 2011.
For August it was 0.1cm in 2016.
September is a little snowier, with a record 38.4cm in 2018, and smaller snowfalls in 2014 & 2004.
public.tableau.com/shared/TJMK9...
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
...snow is also possible in June, August & September, but those are uncommon.
The airport's last June snow was 1.4cm in 2011.
For August it was 0.1cm in 2016.
September is a little snowier, with a record 38.4cm in 2018, and smaller snowfalls in 2014 & 2004.
public.tableau.com/shared/TJMK9...
The airport's last June snow was 1.4cm in 2011.
For August it was 0.1cm in 2016.
September is a little snowier, with a record 38.4cm in 2018, and smaller snowfalls in 2014 & 2004.
public.tableau.com/shared/TJMK9...