Alberta Weather, climate and geography

Weather and climate

Best time to visit

Summer, between June and September, is warm, while winters are cold, with particularly heavy snowfalls in the Rockies. Spring and summer evening temperatures can be cool.

Required clothing

Light to medium-weight clothing during warmer months. Heavyweight clothing and durable footwear is required in winter, with alpine wear in mountains. Waterproof wear is advisable throughout the year.

Geography

Alberta is the most westerly of the 'prairie and plains' provinces, bordered to the west by British Columbia and the Rockies, and to the south by Montana. In the north, along the border with the Northwest Territories, there is a wilderness of forests, lakes and rivers. Mt Columbia on the western Rocky Mountains border is the highest point, rising to 3,747m (12,293ft). Alberta also has significant icefields. They release meltwaters which supply the Mackenzie River flowing into the Arctic Ocean, and the North Saskatchewan River flowing into Hudson Bay.