A powerful chinook wind swept through Calgary on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, shattering a long-standing daily temperature record and transforming the city's typical winter landscape into a scene more reminiscent of early spring.
A Patio Day in January
The unseasonable warmth was palpable across the city, with residents shedding their heavy winter coats. In a striking visual testament to the weather anomaly, patrons at the popular Trolley 5 Brewpub were seen enjoying food and drinks on the outdoor patio—a rare sight for mid-January in Alberta. The event underscored how the powerful chinook arch, a familiar yet dramatic weather phenomenon for the region, had fundamentally reshaped daily routines.
The Numbers Behind the Warmth
While the original report did not specify the exact record-breaking temperature, it confirmed that the high recorded on January 14, 2026, officially surpassed the previous historical maximum for that date. Chinooks, which are warm, dry winds that descend the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, are famous for causing rapid and extreme temperature spikes in southern Alberta, sometimes lifting mercury by more than 20 degrees Celsius in just hours.
This event contributed to a broader pattern of unusual warmth being observed across Western Canada. The article's news ticker referenced concurrent high temperature records falling across British Columbia in the wake of an atmospheric river, suggesting a larger-scale meteorological pattern at play during this period.
Broader Context and Local Impact
The record-setting day in Calgary occurred amidst other significant local developments. The city had recently moved up to fourth place on a list of the best places to live and work as a filmmaker, indicating a growing cultural and economic vibrancy. However, the warm weather also brought practical challenges, as hinted by related reports of slushy outdoor rinks in Edmonton during a similar warm-up, pointing to the disruptive effects on winter recreational activities.
This January thaw stands in stark contrast to the typical deep freeze Calgarians expect, offering a temporary respite from winter but also raising questions about variable weather patterns. The chinook's gift of a patio day in January serves as a powerful reminder of the unique and dynamic climate that defines life in this part of Alberta.
