St. Albert residents should keep their fans and ice packs close at hand this week as the Edmonton region heads into what could be weeks of scorching heat.
As of July 5, Environment Canada was predicting daytime highs of 30 C by July 7, rising to 34 C by July 10.
That’s well above the seasonal average of 23 C for this time of year, and just over the 33.5 C record for July 10 set back in 2001, noted Justin Shelley, meteorologist with Environment Canada in Edmonton.
Don’t expect much relief at night either, as Environment Canada has predicted overnight lows in the high teens for the Edmonton region for next week as well, Shelley said. Seasonal forecasts suggest this region should expect above-average temperatures all summer long.
“We’re going to be in this warm pattern for the foreseeable future,” Shelley said.
Shelley said this heat was the result of a ridge of high pressure now rolling east across North America. The worst of the ridge was over the U.S., with Oregon and other western states poised to see 40 C conditions in the coming days. Shelley said Alberta usually gets a blast of hot weather like this to kick off summer, although this year’s wave was unusually late.
Shelley said Environment Canada will likely issue a formal heat warning for the Edmonton region by Monday.
St. Albert is poised to see longer, hotter summers in the decades ahead due to rising levels of heat-trapping pollution, with the number of +30 C days rising to about 24 a year by the 2060s from the historic average of 3.1, the city’s Climate Adaptation Plan reads.
Extreme heat can put children, seniors, outdoor workers, and others at greater risk of illness and death, Health Canada notes. Shelley advised residents to stay hydrated, close blinds during the day, and schedule their outdoor activities in the cooler hours for the next week. Health Canada says to watch yourself and neighbours for signs of heat exhaustion, such as headache, nausea, and extreme thirst.
Extended heat can increase the risk of wildfires, Shelley said. The City of St. Albert has been under a fire advisory since April 26 due to dry and windy conditions, the Alberta Fire Bans website reports. Residents should use fire pits with caution and dispose of smoking materials properly.
Visit weather.gc.ca for the latest weather updates.
