EDMONTON – Temperatures hovered around 15 degrees Friday, Feb. 26, breaking a temperature record that’s been held since 1938.
By 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, the Edmonton Blatchford weather station reported temperatures of 14.7°C. The last time Edmonton saw comparable temperatures during the month of February was on Feb. 28, 2001, when the thermometer reached 12.9°C.
You’d have to look all the way back to Feb. 29, 1992 to find the next instance of 14°C February weather in Alberta’s Capital Region.
For the past week, all signs have pointed towards the warm weather this week.
“It’s something that the numerical weather models have been hinting at for over seven days,” Global Edmonton’s chief meteorologist Jesse Beyer explained, “and lucky for us, it panned out!”
A broad ridge in the jet stream helped bump temperatures up – a similar weather set-up to what Central Alberta has experienced all month.
“I feel like a broken record, it seems like every week we’re talking about a big ridge in the jet stream with a southwest flow bringing in warmer air,” Beyer said.
In addition to the jet stream, Beyer said there are several factors contributing to the warmth.
“All of the exposed roadways and the lack of snow absorbs the sun’s rays, especially in downtown Edmonton,” making a big difference in temperatures. He also noted that “we’re less than a month away from spring, and the sun angle is getting higher,” meaning more hours for heat to absorb into the ground and radiate up.
Edmontonains were quick to take advantage of the warm weather.
Iced-up drains and slick hills in the river valley were given a chance to melt.
Many school-aged children were also able to jump in puddles as their hearts desired as the Greater Edmonton Teacher’s Convention meant it was a day off from school. Though, not all students were as equally pleased.
There were a few other temperature records set in Alberta today, while several other communities flirted with record-breaking values.
For the weekend, conditions will cool but remain above seasonal with the risk of a rain-snow mix for Saturday.