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Heat wave bringing record daily temperatures: Environment Canada

Jun 18, 2018 | 2:00 PM

After a hot, dry spring we’re now in for more record-breaking temperatures this week as we officially enter summer.

The temperatures are expected to be up to 12 degrees hotter than normal for this time of year and a heat warning is in effect for the La Ronge area.

“Before the week is out there may be three or four days where you’ll see all-time daily records,” Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips told paNOW. “These temperatures are about as warm as you could probably get. They’re like the dog days of summer, which typically would be the first part of August.”

Summer doesn’t officially start until Thursday, but Phillips said a high-pressure system passing over the Prairies is sucking in warmer air from the United States and hitting the region with uncomfortably high temperatures.

Prince Albert is forecast to reach 32 C Wednesday, which would be almost 10 degrees above the norm and would shatter the daily record of 30.6 C set in 1946. La Ronge will be even hotter, with the mercury expected to rise up to 33 C Wednesday, 12 degrees hotter than normal. The record high for June 20 in La Ronge was 30.9 C, set in 1987.

“This is uncomfortable and unhealthy weather, especially for the frail, elderly, infants, and those with health issues,” Phillips said. “We’re not used to this. We’re not acclimatized. If this happened in August there may be fewer concerns.”

Phillips said this week would be a dress rehearsal for what the summer ahead will be.

“Get used to it,” he said. “We’ve called for it to be warmer than usual this year; it has arrived a little before summer officially gets underway, but I think it’s probably going to get even warmer.”

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

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