Prolonged heat heading to southern Manitoba

Daniel Halmarson has your Wednesday morning look at the weather.

It’s going to be a warm weekend for much of southern Manitoba.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a special weather statement for several Manitoba communities on Thursday, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk and Steinbach.

According to the weather agency, a “long duration of heat” is expected over southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan beginning on Friday and lasting into next week.

ECCC explains temperatures will near 30 C on Friday and rise to the mid 30s by the end of the weekend. It adds that “muggy” conditions are expected over the weekend, especially along and south of the Trans-Canada Highway, with humidex values expected to approach 45 on Sunday.

Temperatures are expected to ease early next week; however, daytime highs will stay in the high 20s to low 30s range.

ECCC notes that it will issue heat warnings as the weather event gets closer.

Meantime, ECCC also issued an air quality warning throughout northern Manitoba due to wildfire smoke.

The weather service warns the smoke is expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility at times throughout the rest of the week.

ECCC advises people to limit time outside and to consider rescheduling outdoor activities.

“You may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough,” ECCC says. “More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.”

Environment Canada says seniors, pregnant people, infants and young children, and people with an existing illness are most likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke.

“If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate assistance,” ECCC advises.