Calgary weather: Wildfire smoke and isolated thunderstorms expected for the next two days

Rain proceeds out of Calgary, smoke sweeps in. Jodi Hughes has a look at the five-day forecast from the Sky Watch Weather Centre.

There is still an unstable synoptic setup over much of Alberta with heat across the northern portion of the province and a combination of wildfire smoke and precipitation in the south.

The two scenarios are linked with a ridge of high pressure (and its clockwise rotation) situated over the northern portion of the province and a dominant low-pressure system (with its counterclockwise rotation) sitting over central Saskatchewan, so smoke is being picked up from wildfires in the eastern Prairies and dragged east to west across northern Alberta and eventually north to south along the foothills.

A yellow-level air quality warning was issued for central and southern Alberta, with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) explaining prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke impacts everyone but is worse for those who are vulnerable.

“People more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke, including people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition and people who work outdoors, should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.”

As of 11 a.m., the air quality health index in Calgary was rated as a 7—high risk—and expected to get worse before it gets better.

The daytime high will reach 21 C in Calgary on Tuesday with a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Storm cells are expected to form along the foothills in the afternoon before tracking north and east throughout the day.

Intense thunderstorms are possible along the northwest portion of the province and throughout portions of the B.C. interior on Tuesday.

As of 11:30 a.m., yellow-level severe thunderstorm watches were issued by ECCC for both areas.

This instability will continue into Canada Day with moderate to severe thunderstorms possible along the QEII both in the afternoon and again in the early evening.

Calgary may see some of those showers and thunderstorms Wednesday, with precipitation totals between 2 to 4 millimetres.

Rain and/or thunderstorms are possible Thursday with a slight drop in temperatures that day.

Friday will kick off a period of stability and more consistent temperatures, but not before one final chance of showers, which could impact the Calgary Stampede Parade.

At this point the weather is trending to be nice for most of the first week of Stampede, including daytime highs between 22 C and 26 C and a mix of sun and cloud.