A well-supported and persistent weather pattern is amplifying concern around wildfire activity and risk across British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Two anchoring low-pressure systems situated east and west of a ridge of high pressure will inhibit normal east-to-west flow across the region. These types of blocking patterns will often produce consistently clear conditions under the ridge with elevated temperatures, including in the overnight period. Daytime highs across the central and southwestern prairies will sit above seasonal again on Wednesday, ranging from the mid-20s in southern Alberta to the mid-30s across portions of British Columbia – especially near some of the larger wildfires in that province. Conditions will remain stable, calm and dry for the next couple of days with little to no-risk of rain. While the warmer weather is welcome to some, it is a problematic in terms of wildfire risk and activity. As of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, most of the southern portion of Saskatchewan and Alberta was upgraded to an extreme risk for wildfire (up from a very high risk on Tuesday). Higher particulate levels from wildfire smoke in British Columbia prompted orange and yellow-level air quality warnings early Wednesday. Wildfire smoke will drift across the prairies over the next few days but should remain below warning threshold levels in Calgary on Wednesday. There will be a brief period of temperature moderation on Thursday with daytime highs across southern Alberta expected to drop slightly before climbing back into the high 20s to start the weekend. Rain is expected north of Edmonton on Thursday and Friday, and is likely in southern Alberta at the end of the weekend as this upper-level pattern finally starts to break down. Strong wind and lightning are possible across central and southern British Columbia and the B.C. interior over the weekend, which will almost certainly cause problems given the current wildfire situation.
