Canmore

Alberta Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Alberta, Canada in January.

Planning a journey to Alberta, Canada this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Alberta in January

Alberta, Canada is a region in Canada. Alberta, Canada has a wide variety of climate types. During January, you can expect very cold temperatures and precipitation levels ranging from low to high. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -22°C (-8°F) in Cape Hooper to 1°C (34°F) in Lethbridge. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -10°C (14°F) in Lethbridge and -27°C (-17°F) in Cape Hooper. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Alberta, Canada. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

For specific regional insights in Alberta, Canada, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in High River with an average of 15 mm (0.6 in) to high snowfall in Waterton Park with 102 mm (4 in). Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Calgary typically sees the least rain in this month, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Calgary gets approximately 120 hours of sunlight in January, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore Alberta by month

Best Places to Visit in Alberta in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Alberta.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Alberta

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Alberta, Canada?

Temperature range in Alberta (January)

Precipitation variation in Alberta (January)

Calgary

In January Calgary generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-2°C (28°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
112 hours
120 hours
144 hours
Monthly snowfall
18 mm (0.7 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
8 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Edmonton

In January Edmonton generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C (21°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-15°C (5°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
84 hours
100 hours
121 hours
Monthly snowfall
19 mm (0.7 in)
23 mm (0.9 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Jasper

In January Jasper generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -9°C (16°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-17°C (1°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
56 hours
71 hours
98 hours
Monthly snowfall
53 mm (2.1 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
46 mm (1.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Canmore

In January Canmore generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -8°C (18°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-17°C (1°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-16°C (3°F)
Monthly sun hours
45 hours
57 hours
92 hours
Monthly snowfall
32 mm (1.3 in)
33 mm (1.3 in)
32 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Banff

In January Banff generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -9°C (16°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -17°C (1°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-18°C (0°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-16°C (3°F)
Monthly sun hours
45 hours
57 hours
92 hours
Monthly snowfall
35 mm (1.4 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
33 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Alberta, in Canada.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Alberta in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Jasper -9°C (16°F) -16°C (3°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Calgary -2°C (28°F) -12°C (10°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Edmonton -6°C (21°F) -16°C (3°F) 23 mm (0.9 in)
Canmore -8°C (18°F) -16°C (3°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Banff -9°C (16°F) -17°C (1°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Lake Louise -10°C (14°F) -17°C (1°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)

Alberta weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Alberta, Canada in January?

In January, Alberta, Canada generally has poor weather conditions. Calgary sees daytime temperatures near -2°C (28°F), with nights cooling to roughly -12°C (10°F).

What is the average temperature in Alberta, Canada in January?

Daytime temperatures in Calgary peak at roughly -2°C (28°F) in January, dropping to about -12°C (10°F) overnight.

Does Alberta, Canada get a lot of snow in January?

Not particularly. Calgary averages just 17 mm (0.7 in) of snow in January, making it a mostly dry month for Alberta, Canada.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Alberta, Canada?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Alberta, Canada due to the typically poor weather in Calgary.

Generally speaking, July and August provide perfect weather in Calgary. The weather in January, February, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Alberta.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Canada? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Canada.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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