‘Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain,’ according to Environment Canada
Try to stay cool, Calgary. A heat warning is in effect for the city and it could remain in place for up to two weeks.
Environment Canada reinstated the heat warning on Monday, as temperatures were forecast to rise into the low 30 C range as a warm “upper ridge” became more established, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor.
Upper ridges can be very stable features in the atmosphere that are difficult to move out, he said.
“It’s really establishing itself very nicely, so difficult to move, very slow to break down,” Proctor said. “Once they’re in place, they can sort of set up for an extended period of time.”
The warm upper ridge is coming out of the United States, from California, Arizona and Nevada, and building up sharply.
“We’ve seen some of those temperatures push up to (British Columbia) sort of approaching the 40-degree mark and portions of the southern B.C. interior,” Proctor said.
Although conditions in Alberta won’t be quite that extreme, he said they’ll still be “fairly significantly warm.”
Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to be mainly sunny, with a mix of sun and cloud respectively.
From Friday onward conditions are expected to be sunny during the day and clear overnight.
The rest of this week has highs forecast in the low 30 C range, with overnight lows not dipping below 14 C.
Proctor says “typical” temperatures this time of year are daytime highs around 23 C and overnight lows of about 10 C.
“A real summertime pattern is setting up for much of the province, especially southern Alberta moving forward,” said Proctor. “It’s really setting out to be an extended period of warm, relatively dry conditions.”
Vulnerable Calgarians often forgotten in extreme heat
The Calgary Drop-In Centre continues to help people experiencing homelessness during the heat wave, raising funds to help provide summer clothing, cold drinks, water, water bottles and nutritious food.
They also give out “Sun Safe” kits, which include hats, sunscreen, bug spray and other things needed to keep cool, said Cindy Ngo, fund development manager at the Calgary Drop-In Centre.
“We’re hoping to provide all of that — so that people who have nowhere else to go or people who are staying on the streets — they have what they need in order to stay cool,” she said.
“Anyone who’s making a donation at this time will be instantly be doubling their impact.
“We’ve always noticed that when it’s really cold outside people always think about people experiencing homelessness, but when it’s really hot, I feel like people often forget,” she said.
‘A beautiful day to be out and a not beautiful day to be in’
Stage 3 water restrictions remain in place for Calgary as the city increases flow through the Bearspaw feeder main; restrictions could move to Stage 2 if things continue to go well by Thursday.
“I’m pleased to share that this has gone successfully so far and as of (Tuesday) afternoon we have not detected any issues within the pipe that might halt our progress,” said Francois Bouchart, the city’s capital priorities and investment director.
Friends Emily and Ava were among many parents who endured the heat at South Glenmore Variety Spray Park with their kids on Tuesday — and they came prepared.
The duo sat beneath a canopy tent they had set up for shade and brought with them lawn chairs, snacks and plenty of drinks to stay hydrated.
“We’re really shady people,” Ava laughed. “Too many times we’ve come and the shade (has) been taken.”
“It’s a beautiful day to be out and a not beautiful day to be in,” Ava said. “Grumpy kids, too hot in the house.”
Proctor said when temperatures stay above 14 C overnight, like they are forecast to over the coming days, it makes it difficult for people to “recover”.
“People aren’t getting that recovery, their bodies aren’t beginning to recover from the heat events that they’ve seen,” said Proctor. “It’s cumulative effect(s) of those heat events and the non-recoveries at night that really begin to take an impact upon people’s health.”
Anureetpal Kaur was working an ice cream booth at the spray park on Tuesday. She said it’s quieter in the afternoons so far, with more business in the mornings and evenings.
Kaur will work the booth for two or three days this week.
Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for Calgary on Tuesday afternoon as soaring temperatures blanket the city.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain,” the agency said.
The threat of severe thunderstorms was forecast to end Tuesday evening, said Environment Canada.
— With files from Scott Strasser