Warm weather continues with highs near 30 C by the weekend

Daytime highs in central and southern Alberta will continue to sit in the mid to high 20s for the next two days.

Daytime highs in central and southern Alberta will continue to sit in the mid to high 20s for the next two days. The main weather-maker is a ridge of high pressure extending from the Pacific coast to Manitoba but this is not a completely stable synoptic set-up, so while there is heat being pumped in, there will also be moments of instability driven by smaller disturbances and/or along the edges of that ridge. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible around Calgary Tuesday afternoon and early evening – but are more likely to develop between Red Deer and Edmonton.

On Wednesday a line of scattered thunderstorms will form along the foothills before tracking east and north – possibly rolling through Calgary. And Thursday will bring the possibility of rapidly developing storm cells across central and southern Alberta. This will be the day most likely to include more severe storms for the Calgary area.

There are yellow and orange-level heat warnings from Manitoba through to Quebec due to even warmer temperatures in that portion of the country. Records will likely be broken and there is concern around the impact of that prolonged heat event – but these areas should see a reprieve after Wednesday. Daytime highs in Calgary are expected to range from 25 C to 29 C for at least the next week, with overnight lows between 14 C and 16 C.

This is below the threshold criteria for a heat warning to be issued – but it is still important to pay attention to the signs of heat stress on both humans and pets, and for everyone to stay hydrated and take breaks from the heat if possible.