The Weather Network's Summer Forecast is calling for above-normal temperatures for the Prairies.
The southern half of the provinces will experience well-above-normal temperatures due to a heat dome in the U.S.
A heat dome occurs when a high-pressure system traps hot air over a region, causing prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Meteorologist Rhythm Reet says this means we could see excessive heat for a longer period and more frequent heat waves; it also influences where the storm track will be setting up.
"We get the Ring of Fire, where the thunderstorms and rain develop on the outer edge of this (heat dome). A high-pressure system pushing a lot of that rainfall further towards the north."
Indications are that the precipitation forecast for July and August is setting up for long-term drought conditions, especially towards the southern half of the Prairie provinces.
She notes it really does depend on where that heat dome sets up, if it sets up a little bit further South in the U.S. then we could see a little more rain in the south.
Early reports suggest that on the prairies, the heat dome is expected to cover a little to the west of Calgary, north just shy of Red Deer, across to Saskatoon and east into Manitoba just north of Dauphin and south to the U.S. border.