Heat and wildfire smoke linger over southern Saskatchewan

Southern Saskatchewan is facing a double dose of uncomfortable weather, with persistent heat and wildfire smoke expected to linger until the middle of the week.

Environment Canada meteorologist Stephen Berg said daytime highs around 30 C or warmer are expected in communities including Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Estevan over the next several days.

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At the same time, smoke drifting into Saskatchewan from fires burning across western and northern regions is reducing air quality and creating additional health concerns.

“For the next several days into at least the middle of this coming week, it looks like temperatures will be hovering around 32 C for daytime highs in places like Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Regina, Estevan,” Berg said.

He said the hottest air could shift slightly north or south from one day to the next, but the heat is expected to remain concentrated across southern Saskatchewan.

“It should be all the way into kind of the middle part of next week,” Berg said.

Temperatures across much of the south are forecast to remain between 30 C and 35 C, although Berg said some areas could experience brief periods of slightly cooler weather.

“It’s looking like the low 30s for temperatures,” Berg said. “Maybe parts of the far south near the U.S. border might see temperatures as high as 35 in one of these days.”

Humidity could make the days feel even warmer, the meteorologist added, particularly in southeastern Saskatchewan.

“There’s also the humidity that will be a factor, with the humidex values into the high 30s for some of the places, especially in the southeastern part of the province,” Berg said.

Environment Canada’s Sunday forecast called for local smoke in Swift Current, with a high of 30 C. Temperatures were expected to rise to 33 C Tuesday and remain above 30 C through much of the week.

Berg said the main pocket of heat is expected to remain in the southernmost portion of the province rather than spreading significantly north.

Saskatoon could still reach about 30 C on several days this week, but the Bridge City is not expected to experience the same sustained temperatures as areas closer to the international border.

“It looks like the main heat will be confined to the first 100 kilometres or so, maybe a bit more, to the north of the U.S. border,” Berg explained. “It’ll be mostly closer to the U.S. border than up towards Saskatoon.”

Smoke arriving from several regions

The haze over Saskatchewan is not being produced by one fire or region.

“For the air quality warnings, it looks like it’s largely from the fires in B.C. and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. that’s bringing a whole bunch of smoke into the area,” he said. “Also, the fires up in the northern prairies as well and the Northwest Territories. That’s all kind of drifting into southern Saskatchewan.”

Forecasting exactly where the thickest smoke will travel remains difficult, Berg added, because winds across the province are relatively light and can change direction quickly. Berg said those shifting winds make it difficult to determine which areas could experience the poorest air quality from one day to the next.

“It’s really hard to say,” he said. “There’s a general kind of local smoke or haze across much of the province. That’s for sure.”

The Air Quality Health Index forecast for Swift Current reached seven on Sunday, indicating a high risk, but was expected to fall to five, indicating a moderate risk, by Monday.

Heat and smoke create added strain

Wildfire smoke can cause rapid increases in fine particulate matter, commonly known as PM2.5, which can travel deep into the lungs.

Berg said people should pay attention to how they are feeling, because smoke and high temperatures can combine to make conditions more difficult, particularly for those with existing health concerns.

“People should be vigilant with their health,” he said. “The heat, combined with the kind of mediocre air quality, will make it rougher on respiratory systems.”

People with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, children and older adults should be especially cautious, Berg said.

“They’ll have to be extra careful with the heat, especially,” he said.

The latest updates on the weather alerts can be found on Environment Canada’s website.