2025 Year-In-Review: Part 1 - Temperatures

And now, what you've all been waiting for! It's time for our big look back at 2025 with our Year-in-Review Part 1 - Temperatures.



Warmest & Coldest Years

The big news: 2025 is Edmonton's 7 warmest year on record at 2.2°C above the 20th century average. 

That's a bit above 10th place 2024, but below 1st place 2023.

Warm months were Jan (#13), May (#6), Aug (#5) & Sep (warmest on record). Feb & Dec were below average.

At the end of November 2025 was 5th warmest, but the cold December pushed it down to 7.

The average High was also our 7th warmest, while the average Low was 14th warmest. But together that makes 2025 #7.

You can see where the red line dips for February & December.

I only get to use this chart once a year, and here each month of the year gets a pie piece.

In 2025 February & December were colder than the 20th century average, so they get the blue trivial pursuit pieces. The other months get various shades of orange.

For the climate stripes scarf chart 2025's 2.2°C is another red one, although obviously not as red as the record-breaking 2023.

The last time that we had a blue stripe was back in 1996, at -1.7°C colder than the 20th century average.

For the local outlying stations 2025's temperatures ranked #8 for the airport, #13 for Stony Plain, and Campsie was just #26.



Temperatures Across Canada

Across the country 2025 was Kelowna's #1 warmest on record.

Dawson City, Edmonton, Calgary & St. John's were top-10.

The other cities mostly fell in the range of top 15-35. But Quebec City was lowest with 2025 as its 56th warmest year.

Here are the climate stripes for the country's big cities. 

Back in 2022 we had a few whites and one blue (Winnipeg), but 2023, 2024 & 2025 have been all pink or red. Quebec City is the least pink of the bunch.

Kelowna's previous hottest year had been 1958, at 2.3°C warmer than their 20th century average. 2024's 2.2°C came close to catching it. But 2025 succeeded, at 2.6°C warmer.

Aug & Sep were their warmest on record, and 6 other months were top-10.



Warm & Cold Months

Across the country February & December were below-average for most of the country.

All of the other month were pretty unanimously above average, with a few little blips of blue, like July in Saskatchewan, and November in Ontario.



High Temperatures

For 2025 Edmonton had 230 days with Highs above our 30-year average. That included 8 warmest-records in February, May, 4 in August, and 2 in September.

2025 had 115 Highs reach 20°C. That's the 6th most on record. Recently 2022 had 119 and 2023 had 121. 1897 & 1898 share the record with 122.

2025 had 56 Highs reach 25°C, which is the 5th most on record, and the most since 1961. 1898 has the record with 64.

2025 had 14 Highs reach 30°C. That ties 1961 for 3rd most on record. The only years with more are 2024's 16 and 2021's 17.

We got a late heatwave at the end of August, which wasn't as exciting as some of the big peak-of-summer heatwaves that we've seen recently. But for as late in the year as it was, it set a bunch of new records. We talked about it more here: https://edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-great-deepfreezeish-of-february-2025.html

 

The August heatwave had: 6 30°C Highs in-a-row, which doubled the record for that late in the year, and missed the overall record by 1. 

4 32°C Highs in-a-row which tied the overall record. Set 4 new daily record Highs in-a-row.

For 30°C days across the country Edmonton & Kelowna, Montréal & Moncton were top-10.

And even though Edmonton got a lot, Calgary & Saskatoon were both well below average.



Low Temperatures

For 2025 there were 214 days with above-average Lows, including 6 new warmest-records in January, Feburary & August. 

The 151 below-average Lows were spread around, but included lengthy February & December deepfreezes, and a few cool weeks in July.

2025 ended up with 31 Lows of -20°C, when our average is around 25. Most of those came from February (13) and December (13).

19 of those got to -25°C, which tied 2019. Our average is around a dozen.

2025 only had 1 Low reach -30°C, when we average around 4. The only -30°C was -30.3°C on February 18th. For as cold as December felt, it "only" got down to -29.5°C.

2025 had two deepfreezes, in February & December. They were both long, but they weren't as long, or as cold as some of the more epic deepfreezes we got from 2018~2024.

We looked at them in more detail here:

https://edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-great-deepfreezeish-of-february-2025.html

For -20°C Lows across the country 2025 was pretty typical for the big winter cities.



Warm Winter Days

In the deep-winter months of January, February & December we average around 35 above-freezing Highs (about 40% of the winter). 

2025 had long coldsnaps in February & December, and ended up with 34 of them.

That included 16 5°C Highs, which is right on average.



Yearly Extremes

With a warmest High of 33.3°C and a coldest Low of -30.3°C Edmonton's temperature range in 2025 was 63.6°C. That's pretty typical for modern years. 

2024, 2021 & 2020 were all around 70°C because they got hotter heatwaves and colder deepfreezes.



Records

2025 set 8 new record Highs. That's down from 2024's 11, but it ties 1934 for the 4th most record Highs.

And it set 6 new record warmest-Lows. That's pretty average, and down from 2021-2024 which all set 10 or more.



Frost-Free Days

2025's final spring frost was pretty late on May 5th, while the first fall frost was just a bit late on October 4th.

So 2025 ends up with 140 frost-free days, which is a bit below the average of 146.

2024 had 174, 2023 was up at 182, and 1980 has the record at 184.

This chart is very cramped, but it gives a sense of how the growing season varies across the country.

In 2025 most cities were pretty average, but the prairie cities (except Edmonton) were all around 2 weeks longer than average.



Edmonton versus Calgary

And finally, a quick comparison of Edmonton & Calgary. The temperatures usually track fairly closely, although Calgary is warmer.

But something happened in December. It was a really cold month in Edmonton and across the prairies, but Calgary lucked out with just a bit below average.

That's the end of Part 1 of our 2025 Year-in-Review. Part 2 will look at precipitation, and part 3 will be all about snow.

June 2025 Review

It's time for our big look back at June 2025 weather in Edmonton. It was a pretty unremarkable month, although sometimes that's not a bad thing...

June 2025's average High of 21.6°C was our 46th warmest June on record, and the average Low of 10°C was our 36th warmest. Those are both below the recent averages of 22.2°C and 11.1°C.





High Temperatures

June 2025 had 18 above-average Highs and 12 below-average. But they were all comfortably within our typical range, and nothing was particularly hot or cold.

June 2025 didn't get to 30°C, but the only recent Junes to get there were 2023 & 2021, and before that 2015.

June averages 5 25°C Highs, and 2025 had 6. It averages 18 20°C Highs, and 2025 got to 20.

And it averages 2 Highs below 15°C, and 2025 had 1, with 14.5°C on the 23rd.





Hot Days

By the end of June we average 35 20°C Highs, and 2025 is just a bit above that with 38.

Our recent average for 25°C Highs is around 11 (although the range is from 2 in 2022 to 26 in 2023), and 2025 has 13 so far.



Low Temperatures

June 2025 had 15 above-average Lows, and 15 below-average. None of the warm Lows were particularly warm, but June 22nd's 3.1°C and June 24th's 3.4°C were the coldest in 30 years.

On average June gets 1 Low below 5°C, and 2025 had 2. June also averages 2 Lows above 15°C, and 2025 had 1, with June 30th's 15.3°C.



Warm & Cold Months

June 2025 was cooler than recent years, but still warmer than the 20th century average, so it gets a small orange bubble here.

The average High of 21.5°C was 0.8°C warmer than the 20th century average, and the Low of 10°C was 1.3°C warmer.



Across Canada

Across the country the Highs for March through June have all been warmer than the 20th century average for all of these Stations. 

For June St. John's was the most above-average, at 4.9°C above their average, followed by Kelowna at 2.7°C above theirs.



The Horserace

6 months into 2025, and so far it's a pretty warm year.

Overall it's Edmonton's 16th warmest year on record, at 1.3°C warmer than the 20th century average. The Highs are 21st warmest, and Lowest are 17th warmest.

Across the country January-June 2025 is Dawson City's 6th warmest and St. John's 7th warmest. Quebec City is at the bottom, with 2025 as its 68th warmest January-June.



Precipitation

In June we average 77mm of precipitation, and 2025 was pretty average. The airport got 82mm, Blatchford got 72mm, and Stony Plain got 64mm.

By the end of June we average around 203mm of precipitation for the year. In 2025 Blatchford is a little low with 183mm, the Airport has had 187mm, and Stony Plain had had 189mm.

These are the precipitation totals for 2025 so far across the country. 

St. John's and Quebec city are at the top around 540mm. All of the prairie cities, along with Victoria, are below 200mm.



Big Storms

Around Edmonton June's biggest storms were: 

• Campsie 17.1mm on June 14st
• Blatchford 17.8mm on June 14th 
• Stony Plain 29.4mm on June 19th 
• The Airport 32.9mm on June 19th

Across the country the biggest June storms were: 

• Charlottetown 53mm on June 7th 
• Calgary 48mm on June 21st 
• Moncton 32mm on June 7 
• Quebec City had 3 ~30mm storms.

July

For July, the average High is about 23.5°C. It has around 25 days reach 20°C, including about 10 at 25°C. 

 Most July's will get at least one 30°C day, but recently 2020, 2019 and 2016 didn't.

July is also usually our rainiest month, with an average of 90mm.

2024 Year-in-Review Part 1: Temperatures

And now, what you've all been waiting for! 

It's time for our big look back at 2024 with our Year-in-Review Part 1: Temperatures.



Warmest & Coldest Years

The big news: 2024 is Edmonton's 8th/9th warmest year on record (tied with 2001) at 2°C above the 20th century average. 

That's below 2023's record of 3.3°C, but above 2017-2022. 

July was our #1 warmest on record, September was #4, and August was #8.

2024's average High was 1.3°C above our 20th century average, and was our 19th warmest on record. The average Low was 2.7°C above average, and was our 5th warmest. And together that makes 2024 9th overall. 

In the red lines you can see the big dip for the January deepfreeze.

I don't get to use this chart very often, but here each pie piece is one month of the year. 

In 2024 the only month which was colder than the 20th century average was November (a very faint blue), although June, May & March were all close (basically grey).

For the climate stripes scarf chart 2024's 2°C is another red one, although obviously not as red as the record-breaking 2023. 

The last time that we had a blue stripe was back in 1996, at -1.7°C colder than the 20th century average.

For the local outlying stations 2024's temperatures ranked around top-15.



Temperatures Across Canada

Across the country 2024 was #1 warmest for Montréal, Ottawa & Charlottetown, #2 for Kelowna, Winnipeg & St. John's, top-5 for Toronto & Moncton, and top-10 for Calgary, Edmonton, Regina & Halifax. The bottom is Vancouver, with its 24th warmest year.

Here are the climate stripes for the country's big cities. 

Back in 2022 we had a few whites and one blue (Winnipeg), but 2023 & 2024 have been all pink or red.

Montréal deserves a special look, because 2024 is their new warmest year on record. But they just set a new record in 2023, and before that in 2021. 

2024's 3.1°C is a standout though, well above 2023's 2.4°C and 2021's 2.3°C.

And here is Ottawa (#1) and you can click through for Charlottetown (#1), Kelowna & Winnipeg (#2), or any of the others.



Warm & Cold Months

Across the country 2024 didn't have many months that were cooler than the 20th century average. The prairies got a few in March, May, June & November. But the central and eastern part of the country were above average for the whole year.



High Temperatures

For 2024 Edmonton had 209 days with Highs above our 30-year average. 

That included 11 warmest-records in January, February, July & September. 

157 were below the 30-year average.

2024 had 97 days with Highs that reached 20°C. That's close to our longterm average, but it's fairly low for recent years. 

2024 had 45 days reach 25°C, which is down from 2021-2023, but our historic average is around 35.

2024 had 16 days reach 30°C, which is the 2nd most on record, behind 2021 with 17. Summer was slow to get started, and in May & June we only got above 25°C 3 times. But then July and September heatwaves set a string of new records.

The July heatwaves weren't as headline-grabbing as the 2021 heatdome, but a ridiculous number of notable things happened.

• https://edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-great-heatwaves-of-july-2024.html 

For 30°C days across the country Edmonton & Kelowna were very high, while the other cities ranged from top-20 to average.

Edmonton's 16 30°C days was more than Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto or Ottawa, which doesn't happen very often.



Low Temperatures

For 2024 there were 241 days with above-average Lows, and included 14 new warmest-records.

The 125 below-average Lows were mostly a January deepfreeze, cool start to March, cool mid-June, and a cold end to November.

2024 ended up with 20 Lows of -20°C, when our average is around 25. Only one of those happened at the end of the year. The rest came at that beginning of March, and during the 11-day deepfreeze in January.

2024 had 5 days reach -30°C, from January 11-15. Those 5 days were actually all below -34°C, and January 12-14 were below -36°C, which is very unusual.

The January 2024 deepfreeze was extremely deep, and it did some things that we hadn't seen since the 1970s, 1960s, and even the 1950s. 

• https://edmontonweathernerdery.blogspot.com/2024/02/january-2024-review.html 

For -20°C Lows across the country 2024 was below average for the big winter cities.



Yearly Extremes

With a warmest High of 36.2°C on July 10th, and a coldest Low of -37.7°C on January 13th Edmonton's temperature range in 2024 was 73.9°C. That was the largest range since 1950.

The record is 80.5°C, set in 1936 and 1886 (our Lows used to get even colder).



Records

2024 set 11 new record Highs. The only year with more is 1889, with 14. 

And it set 14 new record warmest-Lows. The only year with more is 2023, with 15. 

In the 4 years since 2021 we've set 51 new record warmest-Lows, which is 14% of the year.



Frost-Free Days

The final spring frost was pretty early on April 20th, while the first fall frost was pretty late on October 12nd. So 2024 ended up with 174 frost-free days.

Our average is 142, 1980 has the record at 184, and 2023 was up at 182.

This chart is very cramped, but it gives a sense of how the growing season varies across the country. In 2024 Toronto, Montréal & Winnipeg had a frost-free season that was a week or two shorter than their averages, while everywhere else was average or longer.



Edmonton versus Calgary

And finally, a quick comparison of Edmonton & Calgary. 

As usual the temperatures track fairly closely. But sometimes a Chinook really hits Calgary: the biggest gap this year was February 29th's High of -12°C in Edmonton, and +10°C in Calgary.

That's the end of Part 1 of our 2024 Year-in-Review. Part 2 will look at precipitation, and part 3 will be all about snow.