Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Hot and dusty until rain returns on the weekend
Heat stress continues for livestock and crops for another day or two. From Saturday onward, storm risks increase—some storms may be severe with hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.
Thursday
Alberta
A strong upper ridge of high pressure is in place over Alberta, and Thursday will be another hot, dry, and sometimes breezy day. In northern Alberta, temperatures will climb to the 30 to 35 degree range. Elsewhere, expect highs between 25 and 30. Sunshine will be plentiful across the province, though things will change in the afternoon over the foothills. Thunderstorms are expected to develop over the foothills. They will be slow moving, or even stationary, capable of producing locally heavy rainfall. Once the storms are done, the moisture left behind could generate fog patches overnight near the foothills and just east.
Saskatchewan
Expect mainly sunny conditions. A mildly unstable atmosphere could lead to a few very isolated thunderstorms in southeastrn regions. The chance is slight, and severe storms are not expected. Saskatchewan will warm up, too, as highs across the province will range from 24 to 27 degrees. Way up in the far north, near Athabasca Lake, temperatures will peak in the low 30s.
Manitoba
Most of the province will be dry and warm with plenty of sunshine. Highs will reach the mid 20s in most areas, from north to south. In central Manitoba, a few non-severe thunderstorms may develop today as a warm front slides through.
Friday
Alberta
Some showers may develop in far northwestern Alberta in the morning, and in the southwestern foothills in the afternoon. Otherwise, it will be another sunny, dry day in Alberta on Friday. As we have seen in recent days, thunderstorms will develop in the afternoon over the foothills, and will either stall or move very slowly, allowing for another opportunity for localized heavy rainfall. Ranches in the foothills will receive much of this moisture, but the rain will also flow through the watersheds, benefitting agricultural operations downstream, especially in the Bow and Oldman basins. The areas shaded in white in the map below will reach 30 degrees or hotter on Friday:
Saskatchewan
As the map above shows, it will be another hot day in most of Saskatchewan. The areas in white will exceed 30 degrees, while th rest of the province will reach highs of 25-30. A few scattered showers or weak thunderstorms possible in the west and in southeastern Saskatchewan later in the day.
Manitoba
Most areas of Manitoba will remain dry, though isolated non-severe storms can’t be ruled out in central MB. The likelihood of developing storms, though, is quite low. As the map above shows, parts of northern Manitoba could reach 30 degrees or higher, but most of the province will peak between 25 and 30 in the afternoon.
Saturday
Alberta
A low pressure system develops in central Alberta Saturday, and rain will spread across the province from the foothills eastward. The storm will intensify as it meanders around central Alberta. Expect rising humidity, and a growing risk of thunderstorms in central and northern Alberta. Late in the afternoon, wet weather will develop in southern Alberta, with showers and thunderstorms. Some storms may become strong with heavy rain, wind, and hail. By the end of the day, most of Alberta will have had wet weather, except for those areas near the Saskatchewan boundary, north of Empress, toward the NWT. It will be hot in northeastern Alberta, from the Lakeland to Wood Buffalo, with highs in the 30s. Elsewhere, expect highs in the mid to high 20s.
Saskatchewan
A low approaching from Alberta begins to stir things up in southwestern Saskatchewan, destabilizing the atmosphere. Scattered showers and storms are likely to develop in southwestern Saskatchewan by midday, continuing all the way into the evening. Temperatures stay warm to hot province-wide. Highs in north central Saskatchewan will reach the low 30s, with peaks in the high 20s elsewhere.
Manitoba
Hot weather will reach parts of central Manitoba Saturday, where highs will climb to the 30. In the agricultural south, it will be almost as warm, with temperatures peaking in the 25 to 30 degree range. Moisture remains scarce, though the ridge weakens slightly, allowing a few isolated storms to develop in the west during the evening.
Sunday
Alberta
Southern Alberta gets hit with heavy rain and storms on Sunday as a low pressure system shifts from southern into central and northern Alberta during the day. While the heaviest rain may end up in the south, central regions can also expect widespread showers and thunderstorms. Some storms may be severe with strong wind gusts, hail, and torrential rain. Expect localized flooding, Dugouts and ditches will fill with water, especially east of Calgary. The wet weather will cool things down. Depending on the exact location of the rain, highs in southern and central regions will range from 10 to 20 degrees. In the north, where the weather remains dry, most areas will reach 25 to 30 degrees with even hotter weather in Wood Buffalo.
Saskatchewan
A strong low pressure system in Alberta will spread rain into southern and central Saskatchewan. Storms can’t be ruled out, and there is the potential for severe weather late in the day. Most of the areas affected are south of the Trans Canada Highway. Conditions in northern Saskatchewan won’t change, with more hot, dry weather expected. Highs in the north could again hit 30 degrees, while in the south, it will be cooler due to the rain. Highs there will reach the mid 20s.
Manitoba
A system producing rain in North Dakota will push some of that moisture into southern Manitoba on Sunday. The atmosphere will become increasingly unstable, and showers and thundershowers are expected late in the day. The showers will extend north into the interlake, but beyond that, it will remain dry. Across the province, expect highs in the mid 20s.
COMPARE: Prairie Weather This Week – July 21
