As meteorological summer wraps up this weekend, the heat is far from finished in much of western and northern Canada.
Forecasters say a ridge of high pressure building over the Prairies will keep temperatures well above normal through the final week of August, with daytime highs in parts of west-central Saskatchewan expected to hover around 30 C
The ridge is pulling hot, dry air northward, leaving the West basking in summer-like conditions while much of eastern Canada ends August on a cooler note. Ttemperatures in the West and North are projected to run 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal averages.
The pattern comes with some risk. The combination of heat and limited rainfall is expected to elevate wildfire danger across already dry terrain. Any thunderstorms that develop could bring lightning strikes capable of sparking new fires. Officials are reminding residents to follow provincial burn advisories and wildfire safety guidelines.
Still, the hot, dry stretch may offer some benefits to farmers. Producers in Saskatchewan say the late-season warmth could help speed crop maturity and provide a boost to harvest conditions, which are already ramping up across the region.
The heat is forecast to persist into early September, with no major shift in the pattern expected in the short term.