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PRAIRIES | Wildfire season

Prince Albert National Park fire grows amid extreme ratings


Digital writers
theweathernetwork.com

Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 10:53 AM - Officials continues to closely monitor the Rabbit Creek wildfire, which continues to burn and spread primarily within Prince Albert National Park about 80 km northwest of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. An evacuation alert has been issued and several trails and campsites have been closed. Despite some rain expected through Tuesday, the accompanying thunderstorm threat could produce further issues. More on that below.


  • Upper ridge remains in place, allowing temperatures to climb near and above the 30 degree mark
  • Heat warnings in place for many areas across northern Alberta as well as Lloyminster, Sask.
  • Thunderstorm risk across southern Saskatchewan Tuesday afternoon with greatest threats being strong winds and funnel clouds

WATCH BELOW: TUESDAY'S THUNDERSTORM TIMING



(SEE ALSO: Historic buildings destroyed in Brandon blaze, wind a factor)

EXTREME FIRE DANGER RATING

The fire danger rating remains a huge concern across the Prairies with extremely dry conditions now stretching into parts of northwestern Ontario. 

As of Monday night, the Rabbit Creek fire was about 24,000 hectares in size with some "spotting" to the south and west of the park boundaries on provincial land. All available resources have been deployed including fire crews from both Alberta and Ontario as increased smoke in the area continues to be a major public safety concern. 

Several closures are in place such as boating on Sandy Lake, the use of trails around Sandy Lake, and the area north of Sturgeon Crossing Warden Station to the Lofthouse Trail, Parks Canada says. 

"As a precautionary measure, the Sandy Lake and Narrows campgrounds are under 24-hour evacuation alert," said Parks Canada in a Monday night update. 

All areas west of the Highway 263 turnoff including Narrows Road, day use areas, trails and campground were closed at 12 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Visitors to the area are urged to use Highway 264, via Highway 2, if they're looking to access the park or the Town of Waskesiu Lake. 

Rabbit Creek wildfire has grown to 24,000 hectares in size. Photo courtesy: Parks Canada

FIRE BAN

A fire ban is in effect for Prince Alert National Park with no impacts currently reported on the townsite of Waskesiu with the exception of smoke.

(MUST READ: Officials warn of above average fire season ahead in Canada)

"Residents of nearby Rural Municipalities (RM) are strongly encouraged to contact their RM administration offices for information on evacuation alerts or orders in their area," Parks Canada says. "As weather conditions and fire behaviour change, increased smoke may be visible throughout the park and surrounding area. This situation will likely continue for the coming days."

THUNDERSTORM THREAT TARGETS SASKATCHEWAN

As firefighters look to the sky for help, Tuesday's thunderstorm threat may not be the relief they were looking for. 

"The main thunderstorm risk for Tuesday exists in Saskatchewan with the bulk of the energy through central and southern parts of the province," says Erin Wenckstern, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. 

With most thunderstorms comes the risk for lightning, with 45 percent of all forest fires started by lightning, according to Environment Canada. Cold core funnels are another threat that comes with Tuesday's storm risk. 

"They look like a normal funnel cloud, but it doesn't come from a super cell, so it rarely touches the ground and forms a land spout tornado, but if it does, it can actually cause some weak and isolated damage," Wenckstern says. 

There's a greater risk for more severe thunderstorms across Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Wednesday and Thursday with warm conditions persisting until likely late next week. 

WATCH BELOW: SULFUR DIOXIDE LEVELS HAVE TRIPLED, HOW DANGEROUS IS THE 'BIG ISLAND' NOW?


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