Heat warnings, poor air quality blanket the Prairies through the end of July
Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for much of Western Canada with daytime temperatures soaring into the 30s, compounded by wildfire smoke from B.C. and the U.S.
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A prolonged stretch of hot, dry weather is sweeping across Western Canada with heat warnings in place for much of the southern Prairies and wildfire smoke blanketing large areas.
Environment Canada expects daytime highs to reach the mid-30s in southern portions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba over the coming days and potentially through the rest of July. In Calgary, overnight temperatures are forecast to remain in the mid-teens — well above the normal low of 10 C for this time of year. Winnipeg is expecting overnight temperatures around 20 C through the weekend.
Global News meteorologist Peter Quinlan warned of dangerous fire conditions. "These are kind of right fire weather conditions that we're seeing across Western Canada. We're even at times seeing crossover conditions where the relative humidity is below the temperature. So that's when we can see explosive fire development, fires that can spark up in an instant," Quinlan said.
Wildfire smoke from B.C., Washington State, and Oregon has prompted air quality warnings across the Prairies. Edmonton lifted its air quality warning Thursday, but Environment Canada still has advisories in place for large areas of northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Dr. Anne Hicks, a pediatric respirologist in Edmonton, warned of the combined health risks. "When you have a heat warning and poor air quality warning, heat affects how we think, it affects our brain function. It affects our heart and lungs. We have to work harder to keep our body going in heat, and as we dry out, it also impacts our kidney function. Then poor air quality also makes our heart and lungs mostly work harder as well. So when you add those two things together, you're increasing the risk," Hicks said.
By the numbers
What temperatures are expected across the southern Prairies through the end of July?
Daytime highs are forecast to reach the mid-30s in southern portions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba over the coming days and potentially through the rest of July.
Where is wildfire smoke coming from?
Wildfire smoke is coming from British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon, prompting air quality warnings across the Prairies.
