Banff broke a 124-year-old temperature record on Monday (May 2) when the mercury soared to 24.3 C.
Climate records for Banff go back as far as 1892 and, according to Environment Canada, the next hottest May 2 day was in 1998 when the temperature reached 23.2 C.
Weather experts say the average temperature for the Bow Valley for this time of year is 13 C.
“It’s a new record. Temperatures this week are well above normal for Banff,” said Dan Kulak, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. “It’s really warm for this time of year.”
On Monday, Banff was one of five Alberta communities where Environment Canada declared record temperatures. The other communities were Jasper, High Level, Peace River and Slave Lake.
Environment Canada was also forecasting highs of 24 C for Banff on Tuesday and Wednesday, which, if reached, will have also broken records. The official temperatures for those days, however, were not available at the time the Outlook went to press.
The hottest May 3 day was 22.2 C in 1957 and the hottest May 4 day was 22.6 C in 1992.
“When you get warm weather, you usually don’t get one day of record temperatures in isolation,” said Kulak. “You tend to get a warm spell, which is what you’re seeing in Banff and across the province.”
The hottest place in the province on Monday was La Crete in northern Alberta, where the mercury soared to 30.6 C, while the hot spot in Canada was Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, where the temperature reached 32.6 C.
Kulak said a cold front was expected to move through central Alberta on Wednesday and the southeast on Thursday (May 5), lowering temperatures to slightly above normal.
In Banff’s case, he said, the expected high on Thursday is 18 C, still above normal.
“The monthly forecast for May is probably a continuation of above normal temperatures,” he said.
Scientific research indicates Alberta’s provincial mean annual temperature has increased by 1.4 C over the past 100 years, with much of that increase occurring since the 1970s from increases in winter and spring temperatures.
The trend is projected to continue over the next 50 to 100 years. Alberta’s mean annual temperature could increase by at least 2 C by the end of the century, possibly as high as 4-6 C higher, according to projections.
In addition, climate change is also expected to bring more extreme weather events throughout Alberta, including heavy rainfalls and very dry years predicted to become much more frequent.
On Monday, Environment Canada took the unusual step of issuing a special weather statement in regard to high temperatures for this time of year for Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis Country.
“These conditions pose a health risk when you are not used to the heat,” stated the alert. “Everyone is at risk from heat, especially older adults; infants and young children; and people with chronic illnesses.”
