Weather School
Fourteen short lessons that take you from “what is air pressure?” to reading the sky, understanding chinooks and knowing why the forecast changed. Made in Lethbridge, for southern Alberta.
Your progress
Start with Lesson 1 whenever you like. Your progress is saved on this device.
How it works
- Read a lesson. Plain language, diagrams, and a “Southern Alberta angle” in every one.
- Try it yourself. Each lesson points you to something to watch in the sky or on our live West Lethbridge station.
- Check your understanding with a five-question quiz. You see the answer and why, right away.
- Mark it complete and watch your progress bar fill up.
- Take the final exam and print your Weather School certificate.
Take them in order, or jump to whatever you’re curious about. The glossary explains every weather word along the way.
Your classroom is outside
Every lesson connects to the real weather over Lethbridge, measured live at Gary’s station in West Lethbridge since 2007. Here’s what it’s doing right now:
West Lethbridge now (2:22 am): 0°C, wind calm, humidity 94%. Live station ›
Module 1: How the Atmosphere Works
The basics everything else builds on.
- 1What the Atmosphere Really IsThe thin layer of air where all our weather happens
- 2Sun, Seasons and TemperatureWhy December is cold, why afternoons are warmest, and why the valley freezes first
- 3Air Pressure: The Most Important NumberHighs, lows and what your barometer is telling you
- 4Why Wind BlowsAnd why Lethbridge gets so much of it
Module 2: Water in the Air
Humidity, clouds and everything that falls from them.
Module 3: Weather Systems
How big patterns move across the continent.
Module 4: Southern Alberta Weather
Our chinooks, our storms, our wind.
Module 5: Forecasts and Observation
How forecasts are made, and how to watch the weather yourself.
Finish strong
- Final exam and certificate: 20 questions from across the course. Score 70% or better and print your certificate.
- Weather glossary: plain-language definitions you can search.
What Weather School is, and what it isn’t
A friendly, practical introduction to how weather works, written for curious people in southern Alberta. It’s for learning, interest and enjoyment.
It isn’t official, it isn’t professional training, and it may contain errors or simplifications. It doesn’t replace Environment Canada’s forecasts, watches and warnings. For anything that affects your safety, always check the official forecast or the WeatherCAN app.
Spotted a mistake or have a question? We’d love to hear it. Use the “Was this page helpful?” box at the bottom of any lesson.