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Airdrie residents can expect a hot, dry summer with a significant risk of wildfires and poor air quality, according to The Weather Network’s 2025 Summer Forecast released Wednesday.
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"Widespread drought is a major concern across the central United States and it appears that the drought will extend well north of the border and impact much of the Canadian Prairies as well," the network stated. "This could have a significant impact on agriculture and bring a heightened risk for wildfires with far reaching impacts from smoke and poor air quality."
Alberta is among the provinces expected to experience "much above normal" temperatures in its southern regions and "above normal" temperatures across the rest of the province during June, July and August. Precipitation totals are forecast to be "below normal" in the south and "near normal" in the north.
"This summer will really come through for those who have been longing for warmer weather," said Doug Gillham, Senior Meteorologist with The Weather Network.
But the warmth comes at a cost.
"This summer will also illustrate the fact that too much hot weather brings many risks."
The network warned of "excessive" heat, particularly in western Canada, contributing to drought, wildfires and degraded air quality. While most of the summer will be dry, "powerful thunderstorms will interrupt the periods of dry weather at times with a risk for localized severe storms," according to the forecast.
That warning of "excessive" heat across western Canada has already begun to play out in Alberta.
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Rocky View County near Airdrie and Crossfield, noting that "daytime temperatures in the high 20s today will increase to reach 30 degrees Celsius on Thursday." Overnight lows are expected to hover around 14 degrees.
"Temperatures will begin to cool on Thursday as a cold front moves eastward across the province," the agency stated in its Tuesday bulletin.
The warning advises residents and visitors to take precautions including rescheduling outdoor activities, drinking water frequently, avoiding closed vehicles, and checking in on vulnerable individuals. "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 agency said.
As of Wednesday morning, Airdrie’s local forecast called for a high of 27 C under clearing skies, with southeast winds gusting to 40 km/h and a UV index of 8 or "very high." Thursday is expected to hit 30 C before a cold front brings a 60 per cent chance of showers and a risk of afternoon thunderstorms. Friday is forecast to be sunny with a high of 24 C. Airdrie is expected to cool by Sunday, with highs falling to 15 C and showers continuing into early next week.
Not all forecasts agree with The Weather Network’s hot-and-dry outlook.
According to the 2025 Canadian Edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, cooler-than-normal temperatures are expected across "the southern Prairies, southern British Columbia, and the Yukon." The Almanac also predicts "above-normal rainfall… across most of Canada, including… the Prairies and southern British Columbia."
By contrast, the Farmers’ Almanac 2025 summer outlook calls for "more than above-average temperatures" across much of the country, with "some long-standing high temperature records" potentially being broken. It forecasts that "British Columbia and parts of Alberta will be drier than normal," which "could possibly lend itself to widespread wildfire activity."
In its national overview, The Weather Network predicted "warmer than normal temperatures across most of Canada," with eastern provinces more likely to face high humidity and storm activity, and northern regions facing elevated wildfire threats from heat and dry stretches.
In British Columbia, forecasters are calling for "a hot summer across the interior… especially during July and August," while precipitation totals remain "near normal or below normal." Similar concerns about wildfires and air quality were raised for the North, with above normal temperatures expected across most of the Yukon, N.W.T., and Nunavut.
Canadians are advised to monitor local weather updates regularly to reduce risks during extreme heat or storm events. "Canadian summers truly are fantastic opportunities to enjoy our spectacular scenery with extended daylight hours and much warmer temperatures," the network stated. "However, it is important to stay informed by regularly checking our detailed local forecasts for updates to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer."
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