Highs in the 30s for portions of Alberta and more thunderstorms possible

Warm weather continues in Calgary and southern Alberta. Jodi Hughes has a look at the five-day forecast from the Sky Watch Weather Centre.

Temperatures will remain well above seasonal for portions of Western Canada today, with highs in the high 20s and low thirties and lows in the mid-teens.

Yellow-level heat warnings have been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and cover eastern Alberta from the Yellowhead Highway, south to the international border, and east into southwestern Manitoba.

Prolonged heat events can lead to serious health issues for anyone, but especially certain individuals like infants, children, seniors, and/or people with pre-existing health issues.

In its warning, ECCC suggested folks in the warned areas take certain precautions including:

• consider rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler hours of the day;
• take frequent breaks from the heat, spending time in cooled indoor spaces where possible;
• drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated; and
• check for your children or pets before you exit your vehicle. Do not leave any person or pet inside a closed vehicle, for any length of time.

Temperatures in Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Edmonton will be shy of the warning threshold criteria, but the heat may still elevate the risk of heat-related illnesses so it is important residents in these cities also try to take breaks from the heat and stay hydrated.

Wednesday will include more instability than Tuesday with scattered showers throughout central and southern Alberta and a risk of isolated thunderstorms.

Most of those storms should remain non-severe, however there is a chance of some rapid intensification in the afternoon along the foothills and in eastern Alberta.

The ridge of high pressure that is sitting over the western prairies will remain in place until Friday, funnelling warm air in and elevating temperatures.

When it starts to break down there is a significant risk of severe thunderstorm development, first in British Columbia and then through southern and central Alberta.

Strong wind, large-sized hail, and intense rain are all possible, with persistent rain and a quick drop in temperatures expected on Saturday and Sunday in the Calgary area.