What the next three months of weather leading up to winter looks like in Alberta
Much of Alberta has been lulled into the first couple of weeks of fall weather, and the long-range forecast is hinting that the snow shovel may be kept at bay for quite some time.
Late last month, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released its three-month temperature and precipitation probabilistic forecasts, which cover the period between October and December 2026.
The three-month seasonal outlook is pushed out by ECCC at the end of each month and looks at meteorological trends for the current season.
It’s important to note that while the outlooks do offer what Alberta can expect temperature- and precipitation-wise, they do not identify any significant weather events, such as storms.
According to the forecast models, temperature trends will vary slightly across Canada over the next three months, with most regions, including Alberta, projected to see a decent probability of above-average warmth.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Based on the ECCC’s first map, northern Alberta and the Rockies currently have the highest probability of seeing above-normal temperatures from October through December, in the 70 to 80 per cent range. Both the Edmonton and Calgary regions are in the 60 to 70 per cent range.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
In the second graph, models predict that much of Alberta, including areas like Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, High Level, and Peace River, has a 30 to 40 per cent chance of seeing near-normal temperatures during this three-month period.
Sections of northern Alberta and the Rockies have a forecast probability of temperature near normal of 10 to 20 per cent.
Looking at the precipitation probabilities from October to December, much of Alberta has a chance of seeing below-normal precipitation, with the strongest signal along the Rockies. Not good news for those who love skiing and snowboarding at the start of the season.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Speaking to Daily Hive late last month for the Alberta October forecast, Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with ECCC, stated something similar to what the long-range maps are hinting at. The warm weather we’ve been experiencing is expected to continue as we move further into October, and potentially further into the fall and winter.
Proctor also said to expect drier conditions, with a big factor behind that being the developing “Super” El Niño in the Pacific.
- You might also like:
- 7 new restaurants revealed for massive shopping plaza near Edmonton
- Small Alberta town named among the most scenic Prairie towns of 2026
- Beloved small-town Alberta specialty store closing its doors after nearly 10 years
You can view all of the forecast maps issued by ECCC online.
Are you looking forward to how the forecast for the next few months for Alberta is shaping up? Let us know in the comments.