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CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Calgary's bummer summer weather still dampening spirits this week
Social Sharing A dismally damp July is forecast to continue to rain out plans for Calgarians this month, as Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is predicting more precipitation and cold weather this week. Last weekend brought yet more showers in what's been an unusually rainy July for Alberta, as parts of the province were hit with 20 to 44 mm. ECCC forecasts 10 to 20 mm of rain is possible for Monday evening, along with the risk of a thunderstorm. Another 10 to 20 mm is forecast for Tuesday amid colder temperatures than usual, with a forecasted high of just 11 degrees. ECCC scientist Christy Climenhaga says a cold front sweeping through Alberta is bringing rainy weather into the Calgary area. "You can get into these patterns where you do have unsettled weather and periods of instability where you get rain, rain, rain," she said. Calgary has already received more than its typical share of rain this July, she said, with the roughly 101 mm as of Sunday being far above the usual July average of around 65 mm. The overall poor weather has been punctuated by heavy rainfall events like the one Calgary saw in late June, as well as a major hailstorm earlier this month that damaged trees and cut power to some parts of the city. Climenhaga says the current cold front is combining with an unsettled pattern in southern Alberta to create inclement weather. She notes that long-term precipitation can be difficult to forecast, because an unexpected thunderstorm or two can easily push an area above its average rainfall amount. "And then you can get the other side of the coin where you get a big upper ridge that just keeps all systems away that just brings consistent heat and dry weather," she said. WATCH | Storm chasers drawn to Alberta's wild weather: Alberta's wild weather has become a magnet for a unique group of characters: storm chasers 6 days ago But Calgary's poor July weather has been surprising because ECCC had hinted at drier-than-normal conditions for southern Alberta this summer. "It's kind of interesting to see the rain coming after a very dry weather and early start to spring for much of southern Alberta," said Climenhaga. Poor weather dampening Calgary recreation Though the rain has been a welcome reprieve from very dry conditions, it also means Calgarians aren't able to spend as much time outdoors. Rachel Hugh, a league co-ordinator with Calgary Minor Soccer, estimates they've rescheduled well over 400 games this season, with about a dozen more in need of a new timeslot this week. Wet fields, thunder and lightning and poor air quality due to wildfire smoke have all contributed to Calgary Minor Soccer games being cancelled or abandoned throughout the summer. "With the forecast that we've had and the forecast that we're expecting, I'm going to assume we're going to have a lot of games that will remain as unplayed this year, just because we can't fit them into the schedule," said Hugh. The poor July weather also isn't ideal for local recreation companies like Paddle Station. Mike McKeown, who owns the Calgary-based rafting company, says this summer's inclement weather has meant there aren't as many customers looking to paddle the city's rivers. "Calgary weather can turn on a dime. Sometimes that means it goes from cold to hot, and sometimes that means it goes from hot to cold, and that's part of the deal we signed up for," said McKeown. "If we know that there's the chance of a thunderstorm in the area, near the river, that's a no go. Whatever we have to do to make sure everyone is safe." But clearer skies could soon be ahead.
Calgary Herald
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Calgary's "Hail Alley" provides valuable data for hailstorm research
If there's two things that are guaranteed for the summer in Calgary, it's always Stampede and the seasonal hailstorms that hit the city right after. Following a flash hailstorm on Sunday, climate experts explain why they always take place around this time of year. Article content Due to Alberta's geography, scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada Christy Climenhaga, said it gives the province with the most optimal conditions for our 'Hail Alley.' Article content Article content Article content 'It kind of runs from Drayton Valley, south towards the south side of Calgary towards that main hail corridor, especially if you are located on the northern side of the city,' she said. Article content Article content Historically, Calgary experiences intense hail events every few years. Article content With the last few major events taking place in August of 2024 and 2022, Climenhaga said it is generally around this time of year when the dynamics of the weather play a role in creating intense storms. Article content 'You need very strong updrafts inside of a thunderstorm, often a supercell thunderstorm will produce these larger hail stones,' Climenhaga said. 'You need enough moisture, a freezing level where that moisture has to be lifted, where those ice stones can form to really all line up to get big hailstorms. Article content 'Calgary often does have that perfect setup, where you do have low enough freezing levels where you do get that moisture pushed up enough to really grow those hailstones.' Article content Article content Simon Eng, research meteorologist for the Northern Hail Project run out of Western University in Ontario, said they've received reports of Sunday's storm hosted hailstones that ranged from 40 to 45 millimetres in size, alongside gusts of wind in the 90 km/h range. Article content Article content 'You had a lesser magnitude hail event yesterday, but other factors present that may have turned up the dial and increased the risk of some of these attendant hazards that are associated with severe thunderstorms,' Eng said. Article content There are three overall programs that the NHP uses to collect data over the summer. Article content First are teams based in Olds and Olds College throughout the summer, generally tasked with chasing storms wherever they occur around the province. Article content Second is their instrumented networks branch that use specialized weather stations and equipment for hail monitoring across Calgary and surrounding agricultural areas.
Calgary Herald
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Calgary expecting heavy rainfall throughout weekend
After a wet and cool week that came with several thunderstorm watches, Calgary is expected to be hit by heavy rainfall this weekend. Article content Heavy rain is expected to begin Friday, with temperatures expected to drop by Saturday. Article content Article content 'It does look like it will be a significant rainfall event for the area,' said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Article content Article content Climenhaga said that although it's difficult to predict days in advance, there's a strong likelihood of extreme weather warnings being issued over the course of the weekend. Article content Article content 'We may put out some messaging, a special weather statement or such, tonight or tomorrow,' she said. 'But it does look like quite a bit of rainfall starting Friday afternoon, continuing heavy at times on Saturday, before starting to wrap up on Sunday.' Article content 'When you look at fire risk, we're looking at how dry it is, how hot it is, how windy it is,' Climenhaga said. 'When you're getting into a couple of days of soggy weather, cooler weather, that will lower your risk at the time, and it's just a matter of seeing how things progress.' Article content Article content Heavy rainfall could pose challenges for several outdoor events planned for this weekend in Calgary, including Heritage Park's National Indigenous Peoples Da y celebrations and some parts of the Sled Island Music and Arts Festival. Article content Chariot Fest, a Hindu celebration of unity, peace and devotion, is also set to take place outdoors, with a parade through downtown ending at Prince's Island Park. Article content 'It's not ideal if it does end up being heavy rainfall,' said Purushottama Carana Das, a volunteer helping to organize the Chariot Fest events, 'but we do have some backup plans.'
Calgary Herald
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Calgary under severe thunderstorm watch, heavy rainfall expected throughout weekend
A severe thunderstorm watch was issued Wednesday afternoon, and heavy rainfall is forecast for Calgary this weekend. Article content Environment Canada warns online that severe thunderstorms can mean large hail, strong wind gusts and tornadoes. Article content Article content Heavy rain is expected to begin Friday, with temperatures expected to drop by Saturday. Article content 'It does look like it will be a significant rainfall event for the area,' said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Article content Article content Climenhaga said that although it's difficult to predict days in advance, there's a strong likelihood of extreme weather warnings being issued over the course of the weekend. Article content Article content 'We may put out some messaging, a special weather statement or such, tonight or tomorrow,' she said. 'But it does look like quite a bit of rainfall, starting Friday afternoon, continuing heavy at times on Saturday, before starting to wrap up on Sunday.' Article content Climenhaga said showers could help reduce the risk of wildfires starting or spreading in central Alberta, but that, too, is difficult to predict. Article content 'When you look at fire risk, we're looking at how dry it is, how hot it is, how windy it is,' Climenhaga said. 'When you're getting into a couple of days of soggy weather, cooler weather, that will lower your risk at the time, and it's just a matter of seeing how things progress.' Article content Article content Heavy rainfall could pose challenges for several outdoor events planned for this weekend in Calgary, including Heritage Park's National Indigenous Peoples Da y celebrations and some parts of the Sled Island Music and Arts Festival. Article content Chariot Fest, a Hindu celebration of unity, peace and devotion, is also set to take place outdoors, with a parade through downtown ending at Prince's Island Park. Article content 'It's not ideal if it does end up being heavy rainfall,' said Purushottama Carana Das, a volunteer helping to organize the Chariot Fest events, 'but we do have some backup plans.' Article content
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Uncontrolled wildfires keep Alberta on edge as thousands remain displaced
Even as firefighters get relief from extreme heat and harsh winds, Alberta's most dangerous wildfires are continuing to burn near communities under threat. More than 60 wildfires are burning across the province as of Wednesday. Of these, 23 have no established perimeter to slow their spread and at least seven of these out-of-control fires are considered a current threat to nearby communities. Around 3,000 Albertans are displaced, with eight communities under evacuation orders as of Wednesday morning. Thousands more remain on evacuation alert, under orders to be ready to leave their homes at a moment's notice. Wednesday night, an existing evacuation order in Saddle Hills County expanded because of a fire in the Blueberry Mountain Area. The order now includes all those located within Township Road 804 and Highway 49, between Range Road 100 and Range Road 95. Smoke has blanketed skies over much of the province, triggering a swath of air quality alerts and warnings. Alberta faced a volatile start to wildfire season, but the overall impact has been lighter that what is being experienced in other provinces. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have invoked states of emergency to help various levels of government deliver aid as they experience some of their worst fire seasons in recent years. Cooler temperatures, scattered rain and calmer winds helped firefighting efforts on Tuesday, while the forecast offers relief both to firefighters on the frontline and people struggling to cope with the high levels of smoke, said Environment Canada meteorologist Christy Climenhaga. A stagnant weather system has allowed a large plume of smoke to pool over much of the province, as well as parts of western Canada and the United States, she said. But a low-pressure system is expected bring a change in winds that will help much of the smoke dissipate by the weekend, Climenhaga said. "We're going to start see some slow relief," she said. "We're going to start to see those winds coming in from more of that southeast direction, strengthening just a little bit to help push that smoke out of the area." Conditions should begin clearing by Friday, with the weather pushing the smoke north and bringing some much-needed moisture to the province. By Saturday, considerable rainfall is expected in communities across the province, with up to 30 mm forecast in some regions, Climenhaga said. The change of weather is expected to both help and hinder the fight for crews battling one of most dangerous wildfires in Alberta — the Kiskatinaw River Wildfire, which spread in from B.C. The wildfire, now straddling the provincial boundary, covers a 21,679 hectares and continues to burn out of control. Sarah Hall, an information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service said Wednesday that crews were contending with an inversion, which developed overnight above the fire. The plume of of smoke limited visibility but also calmed the flames. That "smokescreen" is expected to clear Wednesday as the winds shift, allowing crews to get a better view of where the fire is spreading and flaring, she said. But as the smoke clears, activity on the fire will escalate, she added. "Its a bit of a double-edged sword in the sense that it does reduce fire behaviour, but then it can hamper operations due to poor visibility," Hall said of the inversion conditions. Crews worked through the night Tuesday to control the head of the fire in Alberta. Hall said crews in both provinces are also preparing for a major change in the wind direction, which may cause the fire to double back on itself, pushing the flames back toward the southwestern flank in B.C., she said. "There are times where wind shifts aren't forecasted and can occur in the field and that is a safety concern, but we are thankful that this is forecasted ahead of time and we can plan around it." Hall also urged people keep their distance from ongoing fire operations, and said crews have faced some "interference" from people still recreating inside the evacuation zone. Crews took advantage of Tuesday's moderate conditions to work on dozer guards that will help contain the flames while removing fuels from the path of the fire. As of late Tuesday, no residential homes or outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed within the County of Grande Prairie, where evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect. It's a different story on the B.C. side of the boundary. As of Monday afternoon, as many as seven buildings and mobile homes had been destroyed by the fire in the small community of Kelly Lake, B.C., which is home to about 70 people. Further north in the heart of Alberta's boreal forest, a cluster of 11 fires known as the Red Earth East Complex is closing in on several evacuated communities. One out-of-control fire, now covering 68,565 hectares, is burning 7.5 kilometres southeast of Red Earth Creek and 8.6 kilometres west of Trout Lake, according to the latest update from Alberta Wildfire. Another blaze within the complex, which has put the community of Peerless Lake under threat, has exhibited extreme fire behaviour in recent days. Now spanning more than 12,660 hectares, it is burning out of control just 10.5 kilometres east of the community. A fire that burned through Chipewyan Lake, destroying nearly half of the buildings within the community and temporarily trapping a firefighting crew, continues to rage. According to Alberta Wildfire, it's burning out of control across more than 133,650 hectares, surrounding the community located about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton. Residents of Chipewyan Lake, which is part of the Bigstone Cree Nation, have been under evacuation since May 28, the longest among all Alberta evacuees currently displaced. It's unclear when they will be able to return as many homes, along with critical infrastructure including the health centre and water treatment plant, were lost to the flames. The Sousa Creek Wildfire, burning five kilometres south of the community of Chateh, has more than quadrupled in size since May 30, reaching 41,242 hectares. Residents of the community, which is part of the Dene Tha' First Nation have been out of their homes since May 29. Crews continue to work along the north and northeastern fire perimeter, near Sousa Creek, in attempt to slow the spread. It is burning 72 kilometres west of the town of High Level and 27 kilometres east of the town of Rainbow Lake. WATCH: How to protect yourself this wildfire smoke season:
