High risk of forest fires throughout Saskatchewan
Special to The Weather Network
Monday, August 19, 2013, 12:50 PM - The hot weather in Saskatchewan continues to be problematic for Canadian forests.
Natural Resources Canada has released its national Fire Weather forecast for August 19, 2013, and the results reveal a high chance of forest fires throughout nearly the entire province.
The Fire Weather Index is a component of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System. It is a numeric rating of fire intensity. It combines the Initial Spread Index and the Buildup Index. It is suitable as a general index of fire danger throughout the forested areas of Canada.
Areas that may be particularly affected with a Fire Weather Index of over 30 include Swift Current, La Ronge, and Yorkton. Other provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, and a small portion of Manitoba have also been given an index of over 30.
On this day of last year, an index of 10 or higher was found throughout almost all of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan. Also affected on a smaller scale, were parts of Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and even Nunavut.
These hot, dry weather conditions have set the stage for forest fires throughout Saskatchewan, the same conditions that plagued British Columbia earlier this summer.
