Jasper National Park, Alberta

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer

The weather in Jasper National Park varies according to altitude–a typical trait of the Canadian Rockies.

Springtime arrives to Jasper’s low valleys in mid-April and to the high countryside in mid-June. The summer season is short, but summer

Micro-climates of Jasper.

days are long. July is the warmest month with a mean daily maximum temperature of 22.5ºC (72.5ºF). The autumn months of September and October usher in bright colors amid clear skies and cooler temperatures. The winter season is long and variable with cold and stormy periods that quickly switch to mild chinook winds. January, the coldest month, has a mean maximum temperature of -9.4ºC (15.1ºF).

In mountain terrain, like that of Jasper National Park, a number of factors influence climate and weather patterns, and create a variety of micro-climates. These factors include elevation, latitude, prevailing winds, shading from mountains, alignment of valleys, and winds from the glaciers.

Altitude greatly influences the local climate: the higher the elevation, the colder the temperature. Generally, every increment of 300 mts. of elevation signifies a loss in temperature of 1.7ºC (35ºF).

The winds from the southwest also have a major impact on local weather. The winds from the Pacific Ocean bring warm air and moisture to the mountains despite its location several mountain ranges away. The winds have usually lost most of their moisture by the time they reach the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies.

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