Hot temperatures, high humidity elevate Lethbridge’s fire risk to ‘very high’

Hot and dry conditions have pushed Lethbridge’s fire risk to “very high,” with officials warning it could worsen as summer heat continues.

Despite heavy rain in June, recent hot temperatures and high humidity have elevated the fire risk in Lethbridge to “very high.”

A fire ban is in effect for Lethbridge’s River Valley.

No open fires are allowed at this time.

Lethbridge received approximately 130-155 millimetres of rain during June, surpassing the historical average of about 100 millimetres.

“The recent rain helped to keep things green, but the fact that things are green doesn’t mean there’s a lot of moisture in the ground,” explained Caroline Aubry-Wake, an associate professor of geography and environment at the University of Lethbridge.

The recent week of temperatures reaching 30 C and above, coupled with dry winds and high humidity, has changed conditions rapidly, according to Aubry-Wake.

“The surface of the ground reacts really strongly to temperature and evapotranspiration, so it can dry out really quick,” she said.

“So, I think a lot of plants are using water that went through the ground and is now stored a little lower, so they are still able to grow, but the surface is getting baked in the sun right now.”

After a wet spring and early summer, Aubry-Wake says the heat plays a pivotal role in the environment during this time of the year, especially in southern Alberta.

“The sun is where the energy comes from for all of this to happen; it’s what’s going to heat up the ground and get that water to evaporate and get these plants to grow faster and need more water, so it’s like a perfect storm because of the sun and the wind; we need even more water,” she said.

Temperatures in the low to mid-30s are expected to continue across southern Alberta, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“Whether it’s the River Valley, whether it’s Street Machine Weekend, whether it’s different things you’re going to go to—if you’re going to drive to Calgary and go to the Stampede, anything like that, you just need to be very observant in what you’re doing because a beautiful weekend can get out of control pretty fast,” said chief fire marshal Troy Hicks with Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services.

A fire advisory remains in effect for the County of Forty Mile.