Spring in the West: Will Quebec Taste It?
- Alberta is set to experience temperatures worthy of May, with the mercury possibly approaching 20°C on Wednesday.
- A powerful anticyclonic ridge positioned on the west coast of North America is currently pumping very mild air towards the Prairies.
- The peak of the heat is expected this Wednesday.The city of Lethbridge could see the mercury reach 17°C, with a slight possibility of climbing to 20°C.If this materializes,it...
Published January 13, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Alberta is set to experience temperatures worthy of May, with the mercury possibly approaching 20°C on Wednesday. But while the warmth of the West can sometimes cross the continent, this time, Quebec will be left out.
In brief:
Table of Contents
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Remarkable warmth in Alberta: up to 20°C possible;
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Monthly heat records threatened on Wednesday;
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Quebec remains stuck in a cold atmospheric trough.
Time to break out the t-shirt!
A powerful anticyclonic ridge positioned on the west coast of North America is currently pumping very mild air towards the Prairies. The effect on temperatures is quite stunning for a month of January: Alberta is experiencing a sequence of spring-like warmth with temperatures fluctuating between 10 and 15°C, nearly 20° above seasonal norms.
The peak of the heat is expected this Wednesday.The city of Lethbridge could see the mercury reach 17°C, with a slight possibility of climbing to 20°C.If this materializes,it would be the warmest January day in Alberta since 2015.
Several monthly records are in danger. In Calgary, where around 15°C is forecast, the mark of 17.6°C set in 2003 is being monitored. This is a stark contrast to the city’s seasonal norm, which is -3°C.
Antarctic temperatures in Mid-January 2026
As of January 14, 2026, temperatures in Antarctica were generally near or below -4°C, consistent with typical conditions for that time of year, though localized variations exist.
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, with average annual temperatures ranging from about -57°C (-70°F) on the high interior to about -10°C (14°F) on the coast. January falls within the Antarctic summer, experiencing 24 hours of daylight in many areas.Though, even during summer, temperatures remain frigid. The source text indicates a temperature around -4°C, which is plausible for coastal regions during the Antarctic summer.
For example, data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) shows that coastal Antarctic temperatures in January typically range from -2°C to 8°C (28°F to 46°F).Interior temperatures remain substantially colder. The -4°C reported in the source falls within the expected range for some coastal areas.
Regional Variations in Antarctic temperatures
Antarctica’s vast size and complex topography lead to notable regional temperature variations.
The Antarctic Peninsula, the northernmost part of the continent, experiences the mildest temperatures, with averages around 0°C (32°F) in January. The interior of East Antarctica, including the high plateau, remains extremely cold, with temperatures often below -60°C (-76°F). West Antarctica is also very cold, but generally slightly warmer than East Antarctica. These variations are influenced by altitude, latitude, and proximity to the ocean.
the Antarctic Connection provides detailed information on regional weather patterns and temperature averages. As an example, Vostok Station, located in the interior of East Antarctica, recorded the lowest naturally occurring temperature on Earth: -89.2°C (-128.6°F) on July 21, 1983.
Monitoring Antarctic Temperatures
Several organizations continuously monitor Antarctic temperatures using a variety of methods.
These methods include automated weather stations,satellite observations,and research expeditions.Data collected by these organizations is crucial for understanding climate change and its impact on the Antarctic surroundings. The National weather Service provides access to current and historical Antarctic weather data.
For example, the Antarctic Meteorological research Center (AMRC) operates a network of automated weather stations across the continent, providing real-time data on temperature, wind speed, and other meteorological variables. This data is publicly available and used by scientists worldwide.