By Gorgo - Photo taken by author, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=693104Canada; Calgary
CALGARY — An unusual burst of springlike weather has prompted Alberta Wildfire to issue a rare fire advisory for the Calgary Forest Area in the middle of February.
Alberta Wildfire says the advisory is driven by a combination of warm temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds that are creating elevated wildfire risk well outside the typical fire season.
Daytime highs in the Calgary region are expected to reach about 15 degrees Celsius today, far above seasonal norms of roughly minus 1, with overnight lows typically near minus 13, according to Environment Canada.
The region is no stranger to winter chinooks, but sustained double digit temperatures this early in the year are considered highly unusual. Officials say the warmth has rapidly dried exposed grasses and forest fuels, increasing the potential for fast moving fires.
Wind has added to the concern. Gusts reached up to 50 kilometres per hour on Tuesday, with winds forecast around 20 kilometres per hour today and gusts as high as 40.
The advisory strongly discourages burning and asks anyone who conducted winter burning to return to their sites to ensure fires are fully extinguished.
While fire advisories are common in spring and summer, they are rarely issued in February. Officials say the current conditions resemble early April rather than midwinter.
A map of the advisory area is available at albertawildfire.ca.
Comments