Saskatchewan will continue to see warnings for heat and air quality as hot and dry conditions continue to prop up wildfires in the province. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW and meadowlakeNOW Staff

Hot & dry

Precipitation unlikely to provide relief during wildfires, heat wave

Jul 15, 2021 | 4:08 PM

Saskatchewan residents hoping that nature can help alleviate wildfires ravaging the northern region of the province are unlikely to see that support come through.

According to Environment Canada, temperatures continue to remain above the seasonal average, with heat warnings in effect across the province. In Wednesday’s media briefing regarding the wildfire situation, Steve Roberts, Vice President of Operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, outlined how hot and dry conditions are expected to continue through into next week.

“We’ll get some precipitation and storm activity, in those locations we will likely see some lightning,” Roberts said. “And we’ll see smoke in most parts of the province because of the prevailing winds.”

Despite some hope that some thundershowers will provide portions of the province some moisture, Environment Canada is saying the chances of significant precipitation is unlikely. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Air quality warnings are in effect from Wollaston Lake to Cumberland House in the far Northeast, while the rest of province, despite a steady haze from smoke, aren’t seeing that statement combined with heat warnings yet. Areas in the North Central and North East regions will dip below 30°C over the weekend, but spend most of the next seven days at or above that mark. Communities like Meadow Lake and the Battlefords in the Northwest are going to be even warmer, with daytime highs expected to get as hot as 35°C on Monday.

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Firefighters that spoke to battlefordsNOW and meadowlakeNOW last week said the only way local fire bans would be lifted is if there’s an extended rainfall over multiple days. This is necessary because of how little moisture there’s been through the spring and summer. The province has enacted its own fire ban in every provincial park and all Crown lands.

(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Meteorologist Terri Lang, said that despite a small chance of precipitation, there’s next to no chance of rain coming for most of the province. Scattered thundershowers and showers is the best case scenario, which Lang said is very hit and miss.

“You could get an excellent thundershower and get some good rain out of it, or, you could be on the edge of one, like yesterday where they were all around Saskatoon,” she said. “Nothing, no drops of rain at all and that’s what we’re looking at, because of the current patterns.”

“If you’re lucky, you’ll get under one, but there’s no large system coming.”

Lang said this particular period of heat is particularly brutal. While there’s a slight easing of heat by late next week, the probability of rainfall is still unlikely.

“It’s not a good looking pattern,” she said. “Add smoke to the mix, that doesn’t help either.”

Because heat warnings are expected to remain into next week, Lang said precautions she has discussed throughout the summer become even more critical in preventing heat stroke and other ailments. This includes staying hydrated, avoiding extended periods in the sun, staying in shaded areas and cooling down with spraying water.

(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“Heat is cumulative and it’s going to be a long running event,” she said. “Get out the lawn sprinkler and start running through it.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW