First major heat wave of the season hits Prairie provinces

Heat warnings are in effect as soaring temperatures across the prairies fuel wildfire concerns in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Allison Bamford has more.

HANLEY, Sask. – Parts of the Prairies are dealing with their first heat wave of the season.

Environment Canada has issued a yellow heat warning for parts of southeastern Alberta and several areas in central and southern Saskatchewan that could last for the remainder of the week.

The yellow warning signals moderate risk with temperatures expected in the low- to mid-30s, about 10 C to 15 C warmer than seasonal temperatures, according to Environment Canada.

“It is quite anomalously warm,” said Danielle Desjardins, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECC).

Desjardins said the warning could be expanded as the heat tracks into southern Manitoba in the coming days.

Most of Saskatchewan is under an extreme or high fire risk, according to the provincial fire danger map, despite receiving more moisture this spring than the previous one.

Fire departments across the province are warning residents to be cautious as dry, hot, windy conditions can help ignite and spread fires quickly.

“This (heat wave) is going to dry out or start to dry out any of the moisture that we received over the spring,” Desjardins said.

About 40 minutes south of Saskatoon, dry conditions in Hanley, Sask., have improved after significant rainfall earlier this month.

The recent moisture lowered the risk of grass fires in the area, according to fire chief Les Kroeger. He will continue to monitor the conditions as the heat wave passes through.

“When you get temperatures in excess of 30 C and then you add these 50-to-60 km/h winds, it dries things out really fast,” Kroeger said.

“It doesn’t take much of a spark when you get these high winds.”

The first heat wave of the season is often the riskiest, according to Desjardins, as people aren’t used to the heat, yet.

Meteorologists are warning residents to take breaks from the sun, wear light clothing, use sunscreen and stay hydrated to help avoid heat exhaustion.