Moving from Seattle to Calgary
A climate comparison of two homes: Washington to Alberta. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Freezing months go from 0 months to 5 months.
Seattle, WA to Calgary, AB
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Months below freezing | 0 months | 5 months | 5 more |
| Frost-free season | 247 days | 117 days | 130 days shorter |
| Last spring frost | March 13 | May 21 | 69 days later |
| Coldest month | 42F in December | 19F in January | 23F colder |
| Warmest month | 68F in August | 62F in July | 6F cooler |
Moving from Seattle to Calgary reshapes the home year. Winters get 23F colder. Summers get 6F cooler. Your growing season is 130 days shorter. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- Garden: a shorter season favors transplants, short-season varieties, and cold frames. Wait for soil to warm before direct sowing.
- Snow and ice: more months below freezing mean roof load, ice dams, and driveway care become regular work. Keep a roof rake and ice melt on hand.
Season by season
Spring starts later
Your last spring frost moves from March 13 to May 21, 69 days later. Delay tender planting and spring openings.
Summers run cooler
The warmest month goes from 68F in August to 62F in July. Cooler peaks mean less cooling stress, but watch humidity and ventilation.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from 42F in December to 19F in January; freezing months go from 0 months to 5 months. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from Seattle to Calgary, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Seattle to Calgary?
Freezing months go from 0 months to 5 months. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Seattle Boeing Fld near Seattle and Calgary Intl Airport near Calgary. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Seattle Boeing Fld (near Seattle, WA) and Calgary Intl Airport (near Calgary, AB). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.