OLDS – A heat warning continues for Central Alberta Tuesday as a long duration heat event continues to impact much of the province, Environment Canada advises.
“Most of Alberta will see the hottest temperatures, up to 37 degrees Celsius, on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the July 9 warning stated.
The heat warning is in effect for the Airdrie - Cochrane - Olds – Sundre area and the Red Deer - Ponoka - Innisfail – Stettler area, among other areas of the province.
The federal agency reiterated, as it has the past few days, that overnight lows ranging from the mid-teens into the low-20s will not provide much relief from the daytime heat.
Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
The forecast high for the Sundre area Tuesday is 32 C while it is expected to get to 34 C in the area on Wednesday.
Several high temperature records were broken across the province Monday including in the Rocky Mountain House area. The area set a new record for July 8 of 31.3 C. The old record of 29.4 C was set in 1952. Records in the area have been kept since 1915.
High temperature records were broken July 8 in 14 locations across the province including:
• Banff area – New record of 30.6 C. Old record of 29.5 set in 2012. Records in the area have been kept since 1887.
• Cold Lake area – New record of 32.0 C. Old record of 31.7 C set in 1964. Records in the area have been kept since 1952.
• Lacombe area – New record of 31.0 C. Old record of 30.0 C set in 1964. Records in the area have been kept since 1907.
Meanwhile, the heat is stressing the province’s electricity grid.
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), which manages and operates the provincial power grid, declared a Grid Alert Monday evening (July 8) at 8:25 p.m. AESO asked Albertans to conserve power during peak hours. The grid alert was ended at 9:49 p.m.
