Wildfire smoke rolling into Edmonton; heavy June rainfall sets records
Rain subsided Monday but smoke from Saskatchewan and Manitoba wildfires is creating haze across the region. Edmonton just broke a 112-year June rainfall record.
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The rain that pounded Edmonton for weeks has eased, but smoke from major wildfires in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba is now filtering into the region and expected to linger for days.
Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor said the extreme northern portions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been exceptionally dry and warm, fueling significant wildfire activity. While Edmonton's air quality is forecast for low to moderate risk on Monday, June 29, people with respiratory issues may find the smoke problematic.
Monday's forecast called for a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 27°C, 30 percent chance of showers, and wind gusts up to 40 km/h. Thunderstorms were possible Monday evening, with local smoke potentially turning to fog patches overnight.
The good news: Edmonton broke a 112-year-old record this month for June rainfall. The city received 265 millimetres of rain, surpassing the previous record of 216.5 mm set in 1914. The all-time monthly rainfall record for Edmonton remains 282 mm in July 1901.
Proctor noted climate models show increasingly volatile weather patterns, with higher variability in extreme rainfall, drought, heat, and cold events becoming more common as the climate changes.
