The humidity that marked last week's summer weather debut is forecasted to be on its way out according to a senior climatologist with Environment Canada.
David Phillips said the warm weather is going to stick around, though, just without so much stickiness.
“It's going to stay above normal,” Phillips said. He said some humidity might come back but not as high.
Phillips said he doesn't think any records were broken. Normal daily highs for this area in mid-July are 23°C. Some days in the past weeks have hit 29°C, which with the humidex reading feels like temperatures into the low 30s.
The humidity has been good news for growers, Phillips said.
“That noise you're hearing is the crops growing feverishly,” Phillips said. The humidity itself can be partially blamed on the successful crops. The steady rain that plagued Central Alberta through the spring and early summer means the soil is moist and currently evaporating in the sunny weather.
In June 92 millimetres of rain hit the ground, in May 72 millimetres of rain fell and in the first five days of July Phillips said the area received 38 millimetres of rain, almost half of the usual monthly total.
“Rain has not been in shortage,” Phillips said.
Normally Alberta gets a dry heat, Phillips said, despite last week being “so oppressive and sultry.” That dry heat is destined to come back to the Innisfail area according to Environment Canada predictions.
According to Phillips the temperatures are going down to near normal again at night. Normal lows for the day are about 10°C.
Phillips said the sunshine and warm weather are due to continue, though he warned the weather in Alberta can be temperamental.
“You may get severe weather,” Phillips said.
The precipitation levels in Environment Canada's models are lower than normal too.
“We're calling for warmer than normal and drier than normal,” Phillips said. “We don't think this is over yet.”
