Imagine ditching your parka for shorts in the dead of winter— that’s exactly what happened in Lethbridge, Alberta, on February 4, 2026. The mercury soared to a balmy 20.6°C, marking Canada’s first 20-degree day of the year. Surrounding southern Alberta spots hit the high teens, with sunny skies and clouds mixing it up.
This wild warmth? Blame the chinook winds! These sneaky Pacific breezes barrel over the Rockies, warming up as they descend and turning winter into a temporary spring fling. It’s not totally unheard of—Lethbridge once hit 20°C in January 1997—but February 4 takes the cake for 2026’s earliest record.
Non-Albertans might be scratching their heads (or shoveling snow), but locals know chinooks can swing temps by 30 degrees in hours. The warm spell lingers a few more days, so enjoy it while it lasts—before winter bites back!
Comments