Calgary besting January temperatures this week

A new heat record was set in Calgary Sunday.

The forecast called for 13 degrees Celsius in Calgary, but Environment Canada’s Brad Power said temperatures were well above that by mid-afternoon.

“We wound up breaking the record that was set back in 2007 of 13.1, and today you hit 17.2,” Power said.

The heat wave could last until at least Tuesday when temperatures could once again hit a record.

It’s been unseasonably warm in much of south and central Alberta.

Meanwhile as Calgary sits well above the freezing mark, parts of eastern Canada, including Toronto, were issued an “extreme cold weather alert” Sunday for the ninth time this season.

The warm weather also has Calgarians out enjoying the patios of bars and pubs.

Nicola Trolez with the Ship and Anchor on 17th Ave. said their outdoor tables have been bustling over the last week and says people are clearly taking advantage of Chinook days like this.

“Whenever there’s really a glimmer of sun in Calgary, people tend to opt to sit outside, even if you have to wear your coat, just so that you can sit in the sun as you don’t always get that opportunity and certainly not in the month of January,” she said.

Everest Jason is a bartender at 1410 on 17th and said the weather is certainly having an impact.

“We got the windows completely open right now, the room is absolutely beautiful, it’s not even slightly cold in here,” he said. “We’re hoping that we get some tables out there on the street level patio tomorrow or sometime during the week,” he said.