Published on Feb. 4, 2026, 10:38 PM
Updated on Feb. 4, 2026, 11:31 PM
It’s only Feb. 4, but we officially have the country’s first 20-degree daytime high in 2026.
February has barely begun and Canada has already recorded its first 20-degree temperature of the year.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Lethbridge, Alta., was the lucky community to record the country’s first 20-degree reading in 2026. The Alberta locale soared to a balmy 20.6 C, a notable, but not unheard of, accomplishment for this time of the year.
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The 20-degree reading came about from chinook winds that helped push the mercury high on Wednesday. The province is experiencing a stretch of unusually warm weather this week as a ridge in the jet stream is allowing mild Pacific air to flow east of the Rockies.
Many surrounding regions in southern Alberta are also experiencing patio weather of temperatures in the high teens and a mix of sun and cloud this week. The trend is expected for the next few days.
Is 20 C normal in February?
For the non-Albertans, it may be hard to wrap their head around 20 degrees in February.
While this is relatively early in the year, 20 degrees in southern Alberta does occasionally occur in the winter months. On Jan. 11, 1997, Lethbridge recorded 20 degrees, the earliest occurrence for the station.