Has the winter weather this year been warmer than the usual?

Yes, definately, didn't have half as much of that -35 and lower crap that we usually get!

mmm i suspected as much. i've been keeping an eye on the Calgary vs Frankfurt temps, and there is almost no difference!
we've just had the best winter ever in the area we live outside Frankfurt - snow on the ground since before xmas

Not compared to London or Vancouver, but its still warmer than usual for this time of year. Spring time in Alberta might be as consistent with other springs but thats not certain because of the el nino.

Too soon to say isnt it? I mean, winter in Alberta goes on well into May doesnt it

It's been a funny ole winter in our part of Alberta. No real winter until late november/early december and then the temperatures dropped really quickly and we were soon in the -30's. There were some huge dumps of snow, not the usual daily top up, then it got warmer for a bit and then we chilled down to the -12 to -20's region then once again we warmed up to plus figures, this weekend we saw -17 again.

The main difference we have seen this winter compared to the last 4 is the amount of fog and hoar frost (obviously due to the fog), so it has been damper and has felt colder on somedays. Apparently because we have had so much fog we are in for a really wet spring YAY more grey skies YAY

Also the roads have been really slippy this year (not sure if that's due to my car or the tyres I have on it though) I have slipped more often this year than any other year - I'll not have this car next winter!

This is my first full winter in Calgary and, to my slight suprise, I've not found it too bad at all. I had wondered if it had been an unusually mild winter which would have given the wrong impression but according to people I've asked here thats not been the case. Overall, the long time residents tell me its been relatively normal overall, slightly colder than average if anything - I've not checked to see if that's supported by the records though.

I think the features this year have been:

• Dramatic switchover from summer to winter temps ie +33C in late Sep then -16C in early October
• Quite a long cold period in the lead up to Christmas/New Year including -30 something
• Significant snowfall in early December (I think) but not very much since then
• Jan/Feb with quite a lot of reasonably mild sunny days
• Suprising number of misty days with hoare frost sticking around a few days at a time

Cripes, dont remind me, the first year I came it snowed in May, mind you it only lasted a day as it is warmer!

Really foggy out today, doesn't feel too cold, no frozen eyelashes or nose hairs!

Snowdrops, crocuses, forsythia, daffodils and cherry blossom all currently flowering at JonboyE towers.

Nature is confused.

Last winter was my first in Calgary, I seemed to spend a lot of time shovelling snow and dressing as if I was on an Arctic expedition.

I was all geared up for the same this year but, apart from a couple of weeks late Dec. to Jan., I'd say winter has hardly touched Calgary.

We have had long stretches of mild days and I seem to have hardly needed my big winter coat / boots / mitts etc., it's been lovely.

As, others have said though, it's not over yet - but the forecast for this week is great and I am going to keep on enjoying it!

This is our third winter

Number One - easy - fine - didn't see what all the fuss was about - three very cold weeks and then it was over

Number Two - loooooooong and cold - quick dump of snow on 5th June

Number Three - fine again really - nothing much to note - quite a few foggy days in the last month - as others have said, that is pretty unusual.

(It's only Feb by the way, I daren't say anymore! )

I'm loving reading all your comments. I hope our first winter in Calgary will be relatively gentle on us (2010). I don't really mind the cold, as long as it is not raining all the time! the Alberta sun won't let me down

Oi, don't blame me

Wouldn't I be right in believing that the el_richo effect is a short lived, yet highly potent wind system that tends to appear towards the end of the curry season?

On top of the intermittent wind, the el_richo affect is predominantly unreliable, with occasional late night wetness.