Scorching temperatures will continue across Alberta today with an expected high of 37 C prompting heat warnings across the province.
A ridge of high pressure brought record-breaking temperatures to some parts of Western Canada Tuesday.
A new record of 35.8 C was set in the Jasper area, eclipsing the previous high temperature of 34.4 set in 1926. At least 15 areas of the province broke historical records, Environment Canada said Wednesday.
Temperatures in the Edmonton area reached 34.1 C, tying the previous record set in 2015.
Most of Alberta is under an extreme temperature warning as a heat wave makes its way across Canada’s westernmost provinces. With no relief in sight for several days, CBC’s Travis McEwan reports on how Edmonton businesses and agencies who care for the most vulnerable people, are preparing.
Overnight lows ranging from the mid-teens into the low 20s will not provide much relief from the daytime heat, the weather agency said.
Albertans trying to stay cool also helped break an energy consumption record set in 2021.
The Alberta Electric System Operator, the province’s power grid operator, said a new all-time summer peak record of 11,820 megawatts was set Tuesday. The previous summer record was 11,721 MW, set on June 29, 2021.
Cooler temperatures will begin to move into northwestern regions of the province on Thursday, while parts of central and southern Alberta will moderate on Friday.
Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
The extreme heat conditions have seen fire advisories and total fire bans creep across much of the north of the province as firefighters battle several out-of-control fires.
More to come.
Edmontonians have their own ways to stay cool when temperatures rise — but what actually works and why? Travis McEwan speaks to a doctor about the key ways to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.