2026 to be among the hottest years on record: Environment Canada

As temperatures are expected to drop this week across much of Alberta, and if that winter weather has you dreaming of hosting summer days, you may be in luck.

Environment Canada is forecasting 2026 to be among the hottest years on record.

“The last thing I want is to be hotter this year. You know, so I’m not happy about that,” said Maurice Levesque, an Edmontonian.

Fran, another Edmontonian, said, “Yes, I’m all for it. I just think because you know, living here for about 10 years or so. The weather has kind of limited you to doing things outdoors. You know, it kind of ends up with you staying inside.”

While the reaction to warmer temperatures is mixed, Environment Canada says the world is getting hotter, and forecasts the globe to be 1.44 degrees Celsius warmer in 2026, due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. But Alberta could be less warm.

“The region around Alberta is a little bit less in that direction right now, possibly because we’re starting the year with a large snowpack, but there are a lot of uncertainties this far ahead,” said Bill Merryfield, a research scientist with Environment Canada.

Josh MacArthur, an Edmontonian, said, “I’m all for warmer weather. I think that does go back to global warming, which is obviously, you know, not good.”

While Rod Dean, another Edmontonian, said, “There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s the way of the world right now, right? Climate change is happening. It’s silly to deny it.”

Merryfield says the rising temperatures can lead to more wildfires. A worrying situation for this Edmontonian.

“That’s what I’m really worried about, is forest fires and that smoke, that smoke is a killer,” said Levesque.

While 2026 may not approach the 2024 record of 1.55 degrees Celsius, Merryfield says there’s a good chance 2027 may exceed it if El Niño or a temporary warm climate develops in the Pacific.