Severe thunderstorm risk, heat rising on the Prairies
theweathernetwork.com
Friday, July 6, 2018, 9:22 AM - Big changes are erupting over the country this week, as the eastern heat wave diminishes and the Prairies become home to a strengthening ridge, marking the return of hot summer conditions.
But as the ridge shifts east, a strong thunderstorm threat fires up for parts of the west.
We take a look at the storm risk on Friday.
(Related: Terrible things extreme heat does to the human body)
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Heat is in place, and a strong ridge of high pressure is anchored over Saskatchewan
- Heat warnings issued for southeastern Alberta; temperatures reach 35°C to 37°C on Friday
- Thunderstorm potential for Friday in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and shifts east through the weekend
FRIDAY
By Friday, temperatures are really cooking. Widespread highs will soar into the low to mid 30s, as the dome of heat continues its expansion. On its western periphery, strong southwesterly winds aloft will overrun the hot and increasingly unstable atmosphere over central and northern Alberta.
A couple of systems look to develop in the lee of the Rockies, first on Friday morning through central Alberta, which will track thunderstorms into the northeast through the afternoon and extends through northern Saskatchewan. Models are hinting at a second circulation developing late day Friday west of Red Deer, which would bring another round of potentially severe thunderstorms further south, generally from the central foothills, north of Red Deer and eastward.
Our thunderstorm outlook for Friday:
With this setup, supercells (rotating thunderstorms) capable of producing large hail and damaging winds look to be the primary concern. Across southern Alberta and the remainder of the Prairies, the ridge in place will likely keep a lid on any thunderstorm threat for most of the day Friday, with the risk for storms continuing into the evening and overnight hours over southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.
The strong thunderstorm risk shifts and expands east on Saturday and the focus will find itself over parts of central and northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Areas to the south should remain fairly dry and hot.
Stay tuned for more details.
