Alberta's early May heat the perfect recipe for wildfires
CBC
The Prairies Climate Change Project is a joint initiative between CBC Edmonton and CBC Saskatchewan that focuses on weather and our changing climate. Meteorologist Christy Climenhaga brings her expert voice to the conversation to help explain weather phenomena and climate change and how they impact everyday life.
After the cooler than normal start to spring in much of Alberta, the heat has been turned up to kick off May.
Temperatures climbed into the mid to high 20s across the province on Monday, with both Edmonton and Calgary setting new temperature records.
A ridge in the upper levels of the atmosphere has pushed this warmer than normal weather into Alberta and parts of the B.C. interior this week, and looks to last at least until the weekend.
"A big omega block has formed over Western Canada," said Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Named for the jet stream's likeness to the Greek letter omega (Ω), these blocking ridges lock weather in place, leading to extended periods of hot and dry conditions.
"The Prairies are pretty much blocked from getting precipitation under this pattern," Lang said
"Underneath a high pressure system like this, the air sinks. And when air is forced to sink, it warms. So we're getting extra warmth."
According to Lang, Alberta shouldn't expect any precipitation moving in until the weekend, when the ridge may start to break down.
"When these upper ridges break down we usually get … some wind, some precipitation and a lot cooler air. But not all of the models are agreeing on the ridge breakdown [timing] quite yet."
Although omega blocks and early spring heat are not unprecedented, Lang said this extent of record-breaking heat does stand out.
"This is sort of a very rare event for it to be occurring this early in the season, and just a little bit of that weather whiplash too."
In Alberta, spring wildfires are particularly dangerous, can spread rapidly, and are often human caused.
"May is the busiest for Alberta," said Mike Flannigan in an interview with Edmonton AM on Monday.
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