Wildfire worries rise in the West with severe storm risk in B.C., Alberta
The wildfire risk is climbing in Western Canada on Sunday as severe storms will be possible across parts of B.C. and Alberta, bringing the threat of strong winds, hail, dry lightning and locally heavy rain
The first full weekend of September could end problematic for B.C. and Alberta, with a raised risk of severe weather possible that could also spark new wildfires in the former.
B.C. will see a widespread threat for thunderstorms, including pockets of severe risk, which raises worries over new wildfires being ignited. The potential for severe and non-severe thunderstorms also arises in Alberta on Sunday, including for Calgary. Aside from frequent, dry lightning, the storms may bring large hail and strong winds.
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Multiple days of thunderstorms are forecast this week in the Rockies and foothill regions. Both provinces will be dealing with reduced or poor air quality as a result of the wildfire smoke, as well.
With the chance of storms in B.C. and Alberta on Sunday and Monday, it is important to remain weather-aware and stay up-to-date on all of the latest watches and warnings as conditions change.
Severe storm chance pops up in B.C. and Alberta on Sunday, lightning could spark new blazes
Sunday could yield new wildfires in B.C. as the province sees a threat of thunderstorms, with a chance of some reaching severe criteria, as dry lightning will be a possible hazard with any that develop. Severe and non-severe storms will also be possible in parts of Alberta.
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A stagnant boundary of active weather will drape across the Rockies on Sunday while a slow-moving low spins in B.C.'s Interior region.
Thunderstorms will be possible, with the chance of severe-warned cells impacting parts of B.C.'s Interior and Alberta’s foothills Sunday evening, including the Calgary area.
Minimal to moderate rainfall is expected, however, along with dry lightning and locally strong winds. In B.C., that combination could increase the potential for new wildfires and increase fire behaviour on existing ones.
In Alberta, any severe storms that form could produce two-centimetre hail and may track east towards the Calgary region, including the city itself.
The storms will help to cool B.C.'s recent hot temperatures, possibly breaking the 17-day streak of values hitting above 30 C in Lytton, B.C., since Aug. 17. However, it will still remain seasonably warm in the upper 20s.
Both provinces may be affected by poorer air quality Sunday as rainfall helps to mix smoke particles to the surface.
Opportunity for storms, wildfires continues on Monday
Many of the same ingredients for storm development in B.C. and Alberta will be stuck in place on Monday, too, with a rinse and repeat of a forecast.
However, there will be slightly less thunderstorm energy to work with in B.C., so it will mostly be a non-severe potential.
In Alberta, though, there will be a similar risk area as Sunday's for severe storms, albeit smaller in size. Calgary will be among the communities that could see strong storms on Monday, with a threat of large hail, strong winds and dry lightning.
Looking ahead for B.C., scattered showers will continue to be possible through Wednesday, but not as numerous or widespread as Sunday. Conditions will be drier for the South Coast region. A more significant low could track into the Central Coast region late this week.
Beyond, for the Prairies, a disorganized, low-pressure system will bring pockets of showers and thunderstorms to the region in the middle of and late this week as the system tracks northeast across the region to Hudson Bay by Friday. Southern parts of the region could turn wetter next weekend, continuing into the following week.