It was a short lived reprieve from soaring temperatures as now much of western Canada finds themselves yet again at the mercy of the heat across the prairies. Alberta and Saskatchewan are bracing for an extended heat wave, with temperatures moving to daytime highs of 35°C and overnight lows between 12°C and 20°C.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s meteorologist Terri Lang says that the key concern is the duration of this heat event rather than its intensity. “For this heat event, it’s not so much the intensity as opposed to the duration people should be aware of,” said Lang. “We’re not getting those 40°C egg-fryers. It’s more about the temperature spike lasting for a while.”
The prolonged heat is particularly challenging for those without air conditioning, including the elderly, individuals with health conditions, first responders, and the homeless. Lang reminds residents that heat warnings are about more than just leisure activities. “There’s a lot more that goes into heat warnings than just, ‘Let’s get out to the lake and get on the boat,’” she said.
In Calgary, residents are under a ban from watering lawns and cleaning driveways and windows. They can use watering cans for plants and trees. Mayor Jyoti Gondek reported progress on the city’s new water main feeder and suggested the ban might be lifted soon. Meanwhile, she urged residents to check on neighbors and family members who might need help staying cool. The city has provided a list of cooling locations in libraries and recreation centers where residents can refill water bottles and escape the heat.
Edmonton emergency crews have been busy with heat-related calls, responding to 46 incidents between July 3 and Monday. Most individuals fell ill from too much sun while working or engaging in sports outdoors. Boyle Street Community Services, an agency assisting the homeless, has been actively checking on people and requested water donations. “Whenever we get a heat wave, we check on people frequently and make sure that people that we can find are doing OK in the heat,” said spokeswoman Marliss Taylor.
The hot, dry conditions have also led to a fire ban in large parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Temperatures are expected to start cooling down by mid-next week, providing some relief from the relentless heat.
