Summer 2025 in Calgary has concluded, characterized by a wet start and an extended period of warm and dry weather towards the end. September marked the hottest month on record for the city, with summer-like temperatures persisting throughout. It was also the driest September in nearly 150 years, as only 0.4 millimetres of rain fell, the lowest amount recorded since 1885.
Kyle Brittain, a weather expert, described the lack of precipitation as highly unusual, with only 6.6 millimetres of rain since August 9. In contrast, July was notably wet, ranking as the third wettest July in Calgary’s history, receiving 168 millimetres of rainfall. This extreme weather shift prompted Brittain to dub it “weather whiplash in western Canada.”
A significant weather event in July was a hailstorm that caused extensive damage, resulting in estimated losses of $164 million. Despite this, skies were clearer compared to recent summers, with only 110 smoke hours recorded from May to September, a decrease from the 512 hours logged in 2023.
Outdoor attractions in Calgary were resilient despite the wild weather. The Calgary Stampede nearly broke attendance records, while Calaway Park had a successful year after a rainy July. Increased sales of season passes were attributed to more people opting for staycations due to rising inflation and tensions with the U.S.
Heritage Park also saw strong attendance, with a notable increase in international tourists. The weather fluctuations did not deter visitors, with September described as exceptionally beautiful by park officials.
The harvest season brought mixed results for farmers. Crops benefited from the cold, rainy start, with some farmers, such as James Johnson and Stephen Vandervalk, noting positive outcomes due to the rain. Vandervalk highlighted the importance of timely rainfall for crop yields, especially for canola.
Looking ahead, weather expert Kyle Brittain predicts the formation of a La Niña pattern, suggesting colder temperatures and increased snowfall for Calgary in the upcoming winter season.
