Widespread storm risk on the Prairies, hot temperatures continue
Some of the storms on Thursday may reach severe criteria, bringing threats of small hail, heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts.
The risk of severe thunderstorms will stretch across all three Prairie provinces on Thursday. A line of storms could initiate in Alberta during the afternoon hours before the storm clusters track eastward into Saskatchewan. There is also considerable storm energy in southern Manitoba, which could result in severe storms in the afternoon and evening hours. Meteorologists are warning that there could be a haze in the sky over the next few days due to wildfires burning in British Columbia and California. Details and timing, below.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
Risk of severe thunderstorms across all three provinces on Thursday
Temperatures drop below 30 Friday in most southern areas
Keep on top of severe weather ALERTS in your area
THURSDAY: RISK FOR STORMS ACROSS ENTIRE PRAIRIES
There is the potential for storms to fire up in Alberta on Thursday, thanks to Pacific moisture crossing the Rockies and interacting with the lingering system in the region. Storms may fire up along the foothills in the afternoon and evening hours.
Central and southern areas, including Edmonton and Calgary, are at greatest risk, as well as as southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along the border, for storms to develop. Some of the storms may reach severe criteria, bringing threats of small hail, heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts.
Temperatures will still be hot across southern Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta and Manitoba, with daytime highs in the low 30s, but they won't be as extreme as they were earlier this week. By Friday, the intense heat will have eased off, with daytime highs below 30 in most of the southern Prairies.
LOOK AHEAD: HOT AND HUMID IN THE SOUTHERN PRAIRIES
Hot and dry weather will continue across southern parts of the region through the weekend, especially across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Unsettled weather will take hold across northern parts of the Prairies this weekend.
The heat will ease early next week and the eastern Prairies could actually drop below seasonal. However, the models have backed off on the shot of cooler weather for much of the region, particuarly in the south and west, which will only drop back to near seasonal.
Keep an eye on the forecast as we continue to monitor the weather outlook across the Prairies.
