What Should I Wear Today?
Tell us who’s going out, what they’ll be doing and for how long, and we’ll suggest a layered outfit for right now in Lethbridge, using live readings from Gary’s West Lethbridge weather station. Planning for later or somewhere else? Pick the conditions yourself. Below the tool are short guides to layering, wind chill, dressing kids, footwear on ice and chinook days.
Get your outfit
What should I wear today?
A layered outfit for right now in Lethbridge, from Gary’s West Lethbridge weather station, or for whatever conditions you’re planning for.
This is general guidance, not medical advice. Everyone feels the cold and heat differently, so adjust for yourself and check the forecast and current alerts before a long day out.
On this page
How layering works
Several thin layers keep you warmer than one thick coat, because each layer traps warm air, and you can take one off before you sweat or add one when the wind picks up. Health Canada’s cold weather advice is simple: dress in layers, with a wind-resistant outer layer.
| Layer | Its job | Good materials |
|---|---|---|
| Base layer | Moves sweat away from your skin. | Wool, or synthetic long underwear and tops. |
| Mid layer | Traps warmth, and stays warm when damp. | A wool sweater, fleece, or an insulated vest or light jacket. |
| Outer layer | Blocks wind, rain and snow. | A windproof shell, a waterproof rain jacket, or an insulated, windproof parka. |
What it means for you: start a little cool if you’ll be working hard, open your jacket before you sweat, and keep the layer you took off with you. Don’t forget your head, hands and feet: a toque, mittens and warm, dry socks matter as much as the coat.
Why cotton fails
“ABC: Anything But Cotton. Cotton and denim are extremely cold materials. Avoid them at all costs.”
Cotton soaks up water from rain, snow or sweat, holds it against your skin and dries slowly. The Canada Safety Council says wet clothing is a common cause of hypothermia, and that hypothermia can happen at under 10°C, so this matters on a cool, rainy summer evening as much as in January. Health Canada adds that if you get wet, you should change into dry clothing as soon as you can.
That’s why the tool never suggests cotton: no cotton T-shirts or hoodies as a base layer, and no jeans. Synthetics such as fleece hold very little water and dry quickly, and wool keeps you warm even when it’s damp.
Why does a wet T-shirt make you so cold? Cotton acts like a sponge. It holds water right next to your skin, and as the water dries it carries your body heat away.
Wonder: why do you shiver getting out of a pool on a windy day, even in the sunshine?
Try this: wet a cotton sock and a fleece or synthetic sock, wring them out and hang them side by side. Which one is drier after half an hour?
Wind chill and frostbite times
Wind chill describes how cold the wind makes it feel on bare skin. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) includes it in forecasts when the temperature is 0°C or below and the wind is 5 km/h or more. The tool uses ECCC’s own wind chill formula with the station’s wind speed. It also adds extra wind for cycling and for exposed places like the coulee rims and open prairie.
| Wind chill | Frostbite risk | Exposed skin can freeze in |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to −9 | Low | – |
| −10 to −27 | Moderate | Risk with long exposure if you’re not well protected |
| −28 to −39 | High | 10 to 30 minutes |
| −40 to −47 | Very high | 5 to 10 minutes |
| −48 to −54 | Severe | 2 to 5 minutes |
| −55 and colder | Extreme | Less than 2 minutes: outdoor conditions are hazardous |
ECCC notes that in sustained winds over 50 km/h, frostbite can happen faster than these times. Check your face, ears, fingers and toes for numbness or whiteness, and get indoors if you see any. Health Canada lists seniors (65 or older), infants under one year, outdoor workers and winter sport enthusiasts among those at higher risk in extreme cold. Check the forecast page for current cold warnings.
Dressing kids and babies
Children lose heat faster than adults and often won’t stop playing to tell you they’re cold. The Canadian Paediatric Society advises:
- Layers that go on and come off easily, with as much skin covered as possible.
- A warm hat that covers the ears, plus a neck warmer.
- Mittens rather than gloves in real cold, because fingers kept together stay warmer.
- Warm, waterproof boots roomy enough for an extra pair of socks and wiggling toes.
- Shorter time outside at −15°C or colder, with or without wind chill, and consider keeping children indoors when the temperature or wind chill is −27°C or lower.
Babies and toddlers are more at risk of frostbite because they don’t move as much and can’t tell us they’re cold, so the tool dresses them as if they’re sitting still. Check their cheeks, ears, fingers and toes often. Early frostbite looks red and stings. Skin that turns white or waxy, or has no feeling, needs medical advice right away. Warm it gently, with your hand or with warm (not hot) water, and don’t rub or massage it.
Car seats: Alberta Health Services advises against bulky winter coats and snowsuits under a car seat harness, because they can compress in a crash and leave the harness loose. Dress children in thinner layers and buckle them in snugly: you shouldn’t be able to pinch any strap fabric at the collarbone. Then add a blanket over the straps or put their coat on backwards over the harness.
In the sun, Health Canada advises keeping babies under one year out of direct sunlight, and not putting sunscreen on a baby under 6 months without asking your health care provider first. Children need a brimmed sun hat and sunglasses in strong sun. Never leave a child alone in a parked vehicle, even for a minute, and especially in the heat.
Be a frostbite detective. When you come in from the cold, check your fingers, toes, ears and nose. Do they sting, tingle or feel numb? Tell a grown-up right away.
Wonder: why do mittens keep your hands warmer than gloves?
Try this: learn more about the weather with our kids’ pages.
Footwear and ice
“I’ve worn runners and twice fell in one day and hurt myself.” One fall drove his arm into his ribs, and he fell again going into the house.
“Wear shoes that aren’t junk: decent footwear, warm and waterproof, not so slippery.”
Runners and smooth-soled shoes are a poor match for packed snow and the glare ice our freeze-thaw winters leave on sidewalks. Alberta Health Services’ advice:
- Boots or shoes that fit well and have a good grip are the best choice.
- Shoe grips or ice cleats give extra traction on snowy or icy surfaces. Always take them off before walking inside, because they’re slippery on indoor floors.
- Walk like a penguin: walk slowly, take small steps, and point your toes out slightly.
What it means for you: if you’re an older adult, or you’re caring for one, winter boots with a deep, soft tread plus a pair of ice cleats by the door are among the best investments you can make for a Lethbridge winter. The tool adds cleats for older adults whenever it’s near or below freezing. Keep proper footwear in the vehicle too: if you’re stranded, you’ll be walking in whatever is on your feet.
Chinook days
“Sometimes here you can be wearing everything you own in the morning and be in suntan lotion by the afternoon. You have to be prepared. That’s why I built my own weather station. You can’t live around here and not be cognizant of the weather. We get wild swings in temperature with chinooks.”
A chinook is a warm, dry westerly wind coming down off the Rockies. The Canadian Encyclopedia says one in three winter days in southwestern Alberta is a chinook day, and that the warming is strongest in the southeast of the province. Temperatures can jump sharply, sometimes by 20 degrees or more, and when the chinook ends, the cold can come back quickly.
- Dress in layers you can peel off, and keep the warm ones with you when you do.
- Plan for the wind. Chinook gusts are strong and can make a mild day feel raw.
- Watch your footing the next morning, when the melt from a chinook afternoon freezes into ice.
- Sun protection still counts. Fresh, bright snow can nearly double the UV you get.
When the tool sees a chinook pattern in the live readings, such as a big gap between today’s high and low or a strong, mild westerly in winter, it adds a chinook note. Check the forecast page for the afternoon high and any wind warnings.
Heat, humidex and sun
Lethbridge summers are usually dry, but hot days still catch people out. The humidex combines temperature and humidity into one “feels like” number. The tool uses ECCC’s formula with the station’s dew point.
| Humidex | Degree of comfort (ECCC) |
|---|---|
| 20 to 29 | Little discomfort |
| 30 to 39 | Some discomfort: limit or change outdoor exercise |
| 40 to 45 | Great discomfort: avoid exertion |
| 46 and over | Dangerous: heat stroke possible |
Health Canada advises loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made of breathable fabric, plenty of water, and checking on older family members and neighbours. For the sun, ECCC suggests protection whenever the UV index is 3 or more: a hat that shades your face and ears, sunglasses, sunscreen on uncovered skin, and shade around midday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. UV gets through clouds, so don’t skip it on a grey day.
Sources
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wind chill and the Wind Chill Index (when wind chill is reported, risk levels and freezing times): canada.ca
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Climate glossary (wind chill and humidex formulas): climate.weather.gc.ca
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, How to use the Humidex: canada.ca
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ultraviolet (UV) index and sun safety (protection by UV level, snow reflection, seasons): canada.ca
- Health Canada, Extreme cold (layers, wet clothing, who is at higher risk): canada.ca
- Health Canada, Fact sheet: Staying healthy in the heat: canada.ca
- Health Canada, Sun safety tips for parents: canada.ca
- Canadian Paediatric Society, Caring for Kids, Frostbite: caringforkids.cps.ca
- Alberta Health Services, Winter car seat safety: albertahealthservices.ca
- Alberta Health Services, MyHealth.Alberta.ca, Winter walking tips: myhealth.alberta.ca
- Alberta Health Services, Snow shovelling safety: albertahealthservices.ca
- Alberta Health Services, Heart attack signs: call 911: albertahealthservices.ca
- Alberta Health Services, MyHealth.Alberta.ca, Clothing safety for children (neck warmers, not scarves): myhealth.alberta.ca
- Health Canada, Keep children cool! Protect your child from extreme heat: canada.ca
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Infant safe sleep tips for grandparents: canada.ca
- Canada Safety Council, The cold facts on hypothermia: canadasafetycouncil.org
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, Chinook: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- Live readings: Gary’s West Lethbridge weather station, westlethbridgeweather.com
This tool and guide give general information for dressing for southern Alberta weather. They aren’t medical advice. Weather changes quickly here, so check the forecast and current alerts before you go.