Calgary's Spring Weather Roller Coaster Continues with Dramatic Temperature Swings
Calgarians should brace for another week of meteorological extremes as the city's spring weather roller coaster shows no signs of slowing down. Between Tuesday afternoon and Saturday night, residents will experience a staggering 29-degree temperature swing, with forecasts predicting a drop from 23°C to -6°C.
Snow Returns to Calgary After Warm Spell
The warm weather that had people and their dogs cooling down in Calgary on Monday, April 20, 2026, will give way to a mix of sun, rain, and periods of snow throughout the week. This dramatic shift comes as April 2026 has already surpassed last year's total snow accumulation, with the city recording 30.8 centimetres so far compared to just 11.2 centimetres in April 2025.
"It kind of defines the weather of southern Alberta," said Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. "Spring is a very volatile time in Alberta. These weather swings are very typical."
April Snowfall Exceeds Seasonal Averages
With Calgary's average April snowfall sitting at 22.9 centimetres, this month's 30.8 centimetres represents above-average accumulation. "If people think it's been snowier than average, they're correct," Lang confirmed. While this month's snowfall is on the higher end, it doesn't approach the record of 65.8 centimetres set in 2008.
April ranks as the second snowiest month in Calgary, trailing only March. Last week's spring snowstorm brought up to 30 centimetres of snow to some areas, though official measurements at the airport recorded 6.8 centimetres. The storm caused significant disruption, resulting in over 100 collisions and multiple road closures.
Temperature Extremes Define Alberta Spring
Despite the increased snowfall, Calgary is also experiencing above-average temperatures for April. The average temperature for April 21 typically hovers around 11°C, but the same day in 2026 is expected to reach 23°C. The record high for this date remains 26.1°C, set back in 1806.
Lang explained that "people have a bit of recency bias" when comparing this year's snowfall to last year's unusually light accumulation. Looking ahead, the meteorologist expects the rest of April to be generally cooler than average with intermittent warm periods.
"It'll continue to be that volatility," Lang predicted. "That warm then cold pattern will continue towards the end of the month."
Calgarians should prepare for continued weather fluctuations as the spring season progresses, with the characteristic Alberta climate delivering everything from sunshine to snowstorms within the same week.
