Check the weather
Understanding and preparing for Calgary’s weather during your visit is going to be key to how you pack.
Know this: Calgary’s weather is very unpredictable. It’s the reason why ‘weather’ is the number one small talk topic amongst Calgarians.
It may be July, balmy 25C and sunny in the mid-morning, but by lunchtime you find yourself caught in a hailstorm. Or conversely, in January you’ll experience temperatures of -20C one day and then -10C the next. We’re not exaggerating. The weather and temperatures change rapidly in this city. Play it safe and pack for all the seasons.
If you’re travelling in the dead of summer, Calgary can get pretty toasty during the day. But the moment the sun sets, those big open prairie skies release all the heat and you’ll very quickly realize you’re under dressed. Temperatures can vary from 10Celsius to 35C.
Our recommendation: pack for hot summer weather, but also pack for cool autumn temperatures. That means you should have a good variety of shorts, t-shirts, sweaters, long pants and at least one jacket.
Winters in Calgary tend to be sunny, dry and cold. We don’t get a lot of snow compared to other cities in Canada, but it’s always smart to bring a good pair of waterproof boots, a warm winter jacket, hats, gloves and lots of warm under layers. The only time you’ll use your favourite pair of flip-flops will be at the gym, so leave those at home.
Our last bit of advice: listen to locals. They aren’t ‘pulling your leg’ when they offer up advice on how to dress appropriately for the weather. They know best.
