Adventures & Moments with Wems

First off, Calgary’s winter is SWEET if I do say so myself! I totally enjoyed my first winter here. One word: Sunshine! ☀️

In Umeå, winter meant short daylight hours. If the sun even peeked out, people would rush outside for walks, smiling, trying to soak in whatever little light they could get. But in Calgary? Even in the middle of winter, we get so much sunlight. The skies are blue, and the sun is out, even on cold days.

Since moving here, I’ve shared more about what life and seasons in Calgary actually feel like, especially from a family and everyday living perspective. If you’re curious, you can explore some of my other Calgary experiences here.

📸 : The face you give when you can dress down some days, during the winter period #Bliss😍

📸 : A very warm day sometime in January 2019 (btw, look who is all grown😍)

Another difference? Winter starts much later in Calgary.

• In Umeå, it starts getting cold by November, and real winter stretches from November to April.
• In Calgary, November was still pretty mild! Of course, we had some chilly and windy days, but real winter didn’t kick in until January. And guess what? By mid-March, it’s already warming up 💃🏾 ! 

Now, here’s something that took me by surprise: Calgary’s winter is DRY. Even the water is hard!

• When I first landed in the summer, I constantly had a dry throat and was always looking for something to drink.
• I drink way more water here than I ever did in Umeå!
• My skin and lips dry out fast, especially in winter!

In Umeå, the cold felt harsher because of the humidity, but Calgary’s dry air makes winter feel different. I’m not complaining (okay, maybe a little 😜), but it’s something to keep in mind if you ever move here!

If you love snow, then Umeå wins this one.

• In Umeå, snow sticks around for months. Since there’s less sunlight, it just piles up and stays put until spring.
• In Calgary, snow melts faster thanks to sunlight and Chinook winds. It’s like winter teases you with snow, then suddenly warms up and melts it away.

All in all, I’d say my experience in Umeå prepared me for Calgary. But if I had to describe my first winter in Calgary in one word? SWEET! 🍬. Even on the days when the snow was “serious,” I still went to work. #BaddestWinterSlayer 😂. Many people even told me this was a nice winter, so maybe Calgary was just being kind to me!

That said, I’ve come to realize that where you experience winter really shapes how it feels. Sunshine, temperature swings, humidity, and even how long the snow sticks around can change your entire mood and routine. Whether you’re moving, visiting, or just curious, these little differences matter more than we think.

So for peeps out there who are always asking me how it feels, well, this is me sharing my raw, first-hand experience of winter in Calgary compared to winter in Sweden. All winters are definitely not the same, as a matter of fact, many people said the winter this year was nice.