Calgary weather: Hot, dry stretch bringing increased fire risk

The fire risk is already rising across southern Alberta as the two-week hot spell gets underway.

We are just beginning this hot, dry stretch, and the fire risk is already alarming in southern Alberta.

Much of the far south — including Lethbridge and Medicine Hat — is already facing extreme risk. Many areas further north, including Calgary, are seeing a high risk for fire.

If you thought Friday was hot in the city, just wait for Saturday when it’s likely temperatures will hit 30 C in Calgary. If you’re headed to Stampede, it will feel even hotter than that with all the people and the pavement.

This is a 14-day stretch of temperatures above normal. The pattern will shift a bit on Tuesday and Wednesday, giving us more reasonable heat by then, but that will come with the risk of late-day thunderstorms. The chance of lightning only increases the fire risk. Temperatures will climb back into the high 20s after Wednesday.

Ross Billings shared a perfect textbook pic of a severe thunderstorm. You can see where the warm air is going in, where the cold air comes out at the bottom and the popcorn top.