â–º Listen Live
â–º Listen Live

Wildfire smoke potential concern for southern Alberta this summer

Alberta can expect an up and down kind of summer if The Weather Network’s outlook for June, July and August holds true.

However, the biggest concern this summer for us here in the south is not expected to be drought or extremely hot weather, it’s smoke from potential forest fires to the west.

Meteorologist Doug Gillam tells our radio station conditions in neighbouring B.C. are expected to be tinder dry and hot. “You hope that we don’t have a repeat of last year. Our summer forecast highlights the threat for similar conditions (as last year). Hopefully we will have more favourable conditions and not as many fires as last year.”

During the summer of 2018, southern Alberta was flooded at time with thick smoke from forest fires the west, prompting several days of air quality advisories.

Gilliam notes there is a heightened risk for extended periods of hot and dry weather across the border in British Columbia and that typically means an increased threat for wildfires and smoky conditions here.

Gilliam says southern Alberta should see a fairly decent summer overall, however just not as hot as it’s been the last few years. He notes Alberta will likely be in a transition zone with hot air to the west and cooler air across the eastern prairies. He expects that to bring this area more average rainfall and slightly warmer than normal temperatures.

Patrick Siedlecki
Patrick Siedlecki
Pat has been a mainstay in the CJOC News department from the time the station launched in 2007. He's been in the position of News Director since then and has been anchoring daily news casts as well as reporting and working behind the scenes. Community is important to him and keeping CJOC listeners and readers informed about what's happening across southern Alberta and beyond. Pat has been in radio broadcasting for the past 24 years, starting in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in 1997 and then moving up island to Nanaimo for another few years before heading to Lethbridge in 2007. Pat grew up in the small Saskatchewan farming town of Foam Lake. After high school, he went to Western Academy Broadcasting College (WABC) in Saskatoon prior to moving to the island. Pat also spent several years broadcasting hockey in the BCHL as well as seven years as the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL. Pat has been working at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge as a Certified Life Celebrant and Funeral Assistant since 2016. News and sports have always been Pat's passion from the time he was a teenager and he's always been grateful to have had the opportunity to make that part of what's been a fun and long radio career!
- Advertisement -

cjoc Now playing play

ckbd Now playing play

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

98.1 The Ranch’s Legendary Breakfast

The Ranch's Legendary Breakfast - brought to you by Beltone Hearing Centre highlights all the biggest country music hits from the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's.

The Ranch’s 90’s at 9

Brought to you by Meyers Original Food and Feed...

Police seeking two men in connection with sexual assault investigation

Police in Lethbridge are asking for help with an ongoing sexual assault investigation. 

Walking tours offer visitors and locals alike a glimpse at Lethbridge’s gritty true crime history

Designed for tourists and locals alike, the Lethbridge Historical Society and local historian Belinda Crowson have unveiled the brand-new tour program, Hidden History of Lethbridge Walking Tours. 

Hundreds line downtown streets for Lethbridge Pride Parade

The Lethbridge Pride Parade brought hundreds of people downtown on Saturday, June 28.
- Advertisement -