Alberta's October forecast could mean a mild Halloween this year | Daily Hive

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The October forecast for Alberta is out, and if you’re already thinking about your Halloween costume, it’s looking like you won’t have to plan around your parka.

We chatted with Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), who told us the warm weather we’ve been experiencing is expected to continue as we move into October, and potentially further into the fall and winter.

A big factor behind that is the developing El Niño in the Pacific, which is expected to bring warmer conditions to much of Alberta.

“It’s looking above normal for temperatures pretty much across almost all of Alberta, with that warm bias probably being most pronounced in the Rockies and across the north,” he said.

There was initially some indication that areas east of Calgary and the southeast portion of the province could be a little cooler. Still, Proctor says that signal is expected to weaken as the next forecast is released.

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October could also be a dry one

As for precipitation, most of Alberta is expected to see below-normal amounts in the forecast throughout October.

There could be a bit of a wetter stretch coming up in the near term, but overall, Proctor says the month is looking fairly dry.

Parts of northern Alberta could see closer-to-normal precipitation, as could the area stretching from Calgary south toward Brooks and Medicine Hat.

But how warm will it be?

Temperature-wise, October will still feel like October, with the weather gradually cooling as the month goes on.

In Edmonton, normal temperatures at the beginning of the month typically sit around 15°C during the day and -2°C to -3°C overnight.

By the end of the month, that usually drops to around 7°C during the day and -6°C to -7°C overnight.

Calgary will also cool down as the month goes on, with temperatures typically around 15°C during the day at the start of October before dropping to a high of around 7°C by the end of the month.

So, while we’ll definitely start feeling more of that fall chill, we can still expect to see temperatures warmer than our usuals.

Less snowpack = more fires

The developing El Niño could also have some implications beyond the next few months.

Proctor says El Niño years tend to bring less snowpack in the mountains and across the boreal region. That could become important once we get to spring and summer 2027, as less snowpack means less moisture heading into the warmer months.

As a result, Alberta could see more wildfire problems next year than it did in 2026.

The week ahead

As we prepare to say goodbye to September and hello to October, both Calgary and Edmonton are in for a week of sunny, balmy weather, with just a slight chance of rain on Tuesday.

In Calgary, daytime highs will range from 12°C to 19°C throughout the week, with Sunday shaping up to be the warmest day at a sunny 21°C.