Recreation, Culture & Social Support Services
Weather
Like anywhere in Northern Canada, the weather in Wood Buffalo can be extreme: cold in the winter, hot in the summer.
The summer months (May to September) are warm and comfortable, with plenty of daylight. With average temperatures of 15 degrees C - that sometimes rise past 30 degrees C - summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and local activities. Days are long in summer and short in winter. At summer solstice, the sun rises at 4:33 a.m. and sets at 10:22 p.m. At winter solstice, on the shortest day of the year, the sun rises at 9 a.m. and sets by 3:47 p.m. Daylight hours in Fort McMurray range from 17.8 hours in the summer to 6.8 hours in the winter. In summer, the long days give plenty of opportunity for outdoor activity in the evenings. In winter it is often bright and sunny during the day even though the hours of daylight are short.
People considering moving from other parts of Canada will find that winter in Fort McMurray, while cold, is also quite dry. The amount of snowfall is much less on average than in many other parts of the country. Average snow depth is 20 cm from December to March, and the average temperature is -20 degrees C, but does drop to as low as -40 degrees C from time to time.
For people considering a move here from parts of the world where there is not much snow, it is important to be prepared for the reality of winter in Northern Canada. The cold and snow affect how you go about your day-to-day activities. For example, dressing for the weather is important. Most people here dress in layers so they can be comfortable inside and outside. At temperatures of -30 degrees C, warm boots, a hat, gloves and a warm coat are needed to keep from freezing. Cars in Northern Alberta need block heaters and are plugged in when it gets to -20 degrees C. Leaving the house in winter often means brushing snow off your car windshield if it is parked outside.
Many people in the Wood Buffalo area travel from their home to work every day, sometimes for long distances over winter roads. In this cold weather is very important to make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter months. Getting winter tires on your vehicle is very important, as the roads in the area are used by many commuters and they can become very slippery. Many people who travel during winter also have an emergency road kit in their vehicles in case they get into an accident or are stranded. These kits usually include basic items like a shovel, road salt or sand, booster cables, a flashlight, a blanket, extra winter clothing and food supplies, a first aid kit and a road map.
For more information on local weather and road conditions, please visit:
- Fort McMurray Weather Conditions
- Alberta Road Reports
- Wood Buffalo Winter Road information
- Air Quality Index (WBEA)
