If you’re checking the current time in Edmonton Alberta right now, you’re likely trying to coordinate a meeting, catch a flight, or—if you actually live here—figuring out how much daylight you have left to finish shoveling. It is Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Right now, the clock is ticking through the morning hours in the Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone.
Honestly, time in Edmonton feels different in January. It’s that weird part of the year where the sun doesn’t even think about showing its face until 8:43 AM, and by 4:42 PM, it’s already heading home for the night. You’ve basically got an eight-hour window of "day" before the deep blue of the northern twilight takes over.
But there is something weird happening today.
The January Thaw: When the current time in Edmonton Alberta feels like spring
Usually, mid-January in Northern Alberta is a brutal test of human endurance. We’re talking -30°C and winds that make you regret every life choice that led you north of the 49th parallel. But today? It’s bizarrely mild.
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The current temperature is hovering around 2°C (about 35°F), which is practically tropical for us. Forecaster Josh Classen is even eyeing some record-breaking highs. Back in 1891, the record for January 13 was 9.4°C. We might actually get close to that today. It’s part of a massive "January thaw" that’s settled over the city, turning our rock-solid snowbanks into a slushy, grey mess.
If you're out and about, you'll notice the air feels heavy and damp—humidity is sitting at 78%. It's cloudy, kind of gloomy, but you won't need the heavy parka. A light shell will probably do.
Time zones and the DST headache
Edmonton sits in the Mountain Time Zone. Right now, we are 7 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-7).
If you are calling someone in Toronto, you’re two hours behind them. Calling Vancouver? You’re one hour ahead. It sounds simple until you remember that Alberta has been having a decades-long existential crisis about whether or not to keep Daylight Saving Time. For now, we still do the "spring forward, fall back" dance.
Mark your calendar: the clocks will jump forward on March 8, 2026.
I’ve spent years explaining this to relatives in the UK (who are 7 hours ahead of us right now), and honestly, the math never gets easier after a long day at work. You basically just learn to live with a permanent "world clock" widget on your phone screen.
What to do with your time in the city today
Since the weather isn't trying to kill us today, it’s actually a great time to be a tourist or a local looking for a break.
- Catch a show: Moulin Rouge! The Musical is currently running at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. It’s an electrifying way to spend an evening if you can snag a ticket.
- The Muttart Conservatory: If the grey skies are getting to you, head to the pyramids. The feature pyramid right now is "Prehistoric Paradise"—think lush greenery and dinosaurs. It’s the closest you’ll get to a tropical vacation without leaving the city limits.
- Rogers Place: There isn't an Oilers game tonight (the next one is Thursday against the Islanders), but the ICE District is still the heartbeat of the downtown core.
The light at the end of the tunnel
Living at a latitude of 53.5°N means we are obsessed with light. Every day right now, we’re gaining about two and a half minutes of daylight. It doesn't sound like much, but by the end of the month, we'll have nearly nine hours of sun.
The current time in Edmonton Alberta is more than just a number on a digital clock; it’s a measurement of how much winter we have left to survive. We’re currently in the "slush phase," which is better than the "deep freeze phase," even if it ruins your suede boots.
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Actionable Tips for Today:
- Check your tires: With temperatures hovering near zero, the roads are a nightmare of "black ice." The melt-freeze cycle is at its peak today.
- Vitamin D: If you’re visiting from further south, the lack of sun can hit hard. Take your supplements.
- Dress in layers: It’s 2°C now, but the wind can pick up to 19 km/h, making it feel more like -1°C.
Don't let the "mild" weather fool you—Edmonton always has one more trick up its sleeve before February hits. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts, because the forecast says the "real" winter returns by next weekend.