Very High to Extreme Wildfire Risk Across Alberta, Fire Advisories & Restrictions in Place Province-Wide

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Across Alberta, we are seeing high temperatures in the upper-20s and into the mid-30s, along with low humidity, very little precipitation, and some strong wind gusts. In some regions, crossover conditions are expected, which is the point at which the relative humidity is less than the temperature and this is indicative of extreme burning conditions. As a result of these conditions, the entire province is currently under Very High or Extreme wildfire risk as shown on our Wildfire Risk Forecast. All areas to the north of the top of the map are under Extreme risk. High intensity and fast spreading fires are likely to occur under these conditions and they can be very difficult for crews to control.

At the time of writing, there are 57 active wildfires: one each in the Grande Prairie, Lac La Biche, and Whitecourt Forest Areas, two in the Slave Lake Forest Area, three in the Peace River Forest Area, 15 in the Fort McMurray Forest Area, and 34 in the High Level Forest Area. There is also the potential for dry thunderstorms in the forecast with lightning that could cause additional fires.

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Given the situations, each Forest Area has issued their own Fire Advisories or Restrictions as a means to limit further flare ups until conditions improve. Advisories continue to allow safe campfires, but fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited and permits may be restricted. Restrictions, on the other hand, prohibit burning of any kind on public lands and extreme caution must be exercised when using Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Also, permits may be restricted, suspended, or cancelled and no new permits will be issued. As of this point, there are only a handful of local Fire Bans across the province, so make sure to be aware of the fire status in your area. If you have a fire, it is absolutely crucial to soak it, stir it, and soak it again when putting it out and NEVER leave a campfire unattended. When using OHVs, always check for hotspots.

For more information, you can visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-wildfire.

Drastic Decrease in Wildfire Risk Being Seen Across Central and Southern Alberta

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Following the rain storm over the past couple of days, along with the snowfall from early last week, we have seen a considerable decrease in the wildfire risk across most of Central and Southern Alberta. Looking back 2 weeks to April 24th, following a series of evacuation alerts due to wildfires, most of Alberta was under high to extreme wildfire risk. At that time, there were over 70 active fires across the province, some of which were burning out of control for multiple days.

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Fast forward to today and the number of active fires has been cut in half, thanks to the tireless efforts of the many firefighters and some assistance from Mother Nature. A large majority of the province is now at Low Risk, however the northwest is the major exception. In this region, we’re looking at a significant swath of High and Very High Risk from Grande Cache to the border of the NWT, along with an area of Extreme Risk centered over Grande Prairie. We’ve included a map of the wildfire risk from the 24th to compare it to the current risk.

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Looking ahead, precipitation looks to return to Southern and Central Alberta early next week and then finally into the Grande Prairie area later in the week. At this point, while still way too early for an accurate forecast, it appears that this precipitation may fall as snow.

SASKATCHEWAN: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Tuesday, July 4, 2023

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The area of extreme wildfire risk that has covered a large portion of the Southern Prairies for the last several days is now isolated to part of Southern Saskatchewan, including Regina. While the temperatures in this area will struggle to reach 20°C today, the lack of moisture is the major factor for this risk level. With very little rain in the forecast for the next week, it’s likely that the area under extreme wildfire risk will increase.

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Tuesday, July 4, 2023

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Extreme wildfire risk has made its return to Northern Ontario along with high temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s expected tomorrow. Northwestern Ontario has seen more moisture than Northeastern Ontario, resulting in mostly low and moderate risk with a patch of high risk to the west while in the east, there is high and extreme risk. In particular, Fort Albany and Moosonee are under extreme risk for tomorrow. The heat is only expected to last for two days and it will be followed by cooler, moist air and light rain, which should mitigate the extreme wildfire risk later in the week.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Monday, July 3, 2023

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A very large swath of low wildfire risk extends across the Northern and Central Prairies today following plenty of precipitation over the last couple of days and more falling today, mostly in Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as widespread daily highs below 20°. Less precipitation in Northern Alberta has resulted in moderate to high wildfire risk in the region. In the Southern Prairies, conditions remain quite dry, especially in Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, and despite temperatures in the low 20s, this are can expect high and extreme risk for today.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Saturday, July 1, 2023

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A large area of low and moderate wildfire risk exists across Central Alberta and into Saskatchewan today after storms yesterday and more expected later today. The area of extreme risk in Northwestern Alberta has been replaced with high risk with a decrease in the winds that had elevated the risk in the first place. Extreme wildfire risk is continued to be expected in Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan with dry conditions and temperatures approaching and exceeding the 30°C mark. Much of Saskatchewan and Manitoba is under high risk for today, with far Northern Manitoba under low to moderate risk.

With it being Canada Day weekend, please make sure to check any fire bans and restrictions before setting off any fireworks this weekend.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Friday, June 30, 2023

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A second area of extreme wildfire risk is expected to join the one in Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan today; this one in Northwestern Alberta and includes Grande Prairie and Peace River. Strong winds and low humidity have resulted in the increased risk in the area for today and it’s unlikely that it will carry over to tomorrow. In Central Alberta, the low and moderate risk extends eastward, with Edmonton under low risk. This eastward expansion includes a small area of Central Saskatchewan seeing moderate risk, such as Meadow Lake and Dillon, but rest of the province can expect high and extreme wildfire risk today with temperatures in the upper 20s and low moisture. Temperatures in the upper 20s will also increase the risk to high across most of Manitoba for today, but recent precipitation in Southern Manitoba and along the Ontario border will keep the risk at low and moderate.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Thursday, June 29, 2023

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There will be extreme wildfire risk again today in Southeastern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan as a result of low humidity and temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s. The rest of Saskatchewan can expect high risk today, with some moderate risk along the Manitoba border. Southern Manitoba is under low to moderate risk due to recent precipitation while to the north, drier air raises the risk to high. In Alberta, a large part of the province can expect high wildfire risk for today with low and moderate risk in the Rockies and Foothills due to lower temperatures and fairly calm winds there.

SASKATCHEWAN: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Wednesday, June 28, 2023

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A substantial area of extreme wildfire risk is expected in Southern Saskatchewan tomorrow, spanning from the Alberta border to Regina. This risk is being driven by dry conditions with moderate humidity, temperatures in the mid 20s. and strong sustained winds. Most of the rest of Southern Saskatchewan can expect high wildfire risk with low and moderate risk along the Manitoba border.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Saturday, June 24, 2023

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Extreme wildfire risk returns to the Prairies in Southern Alberta and into Southwestern and West Central Saskatchewan today. Much of the rest of the Prairies can expect high wildfire risk which is being driven by high temperatures in the mid to upper 20s and low humidity across the region. The main exception will be in the Rockies and Foothills where cooler temperatures and plenty of recent precipitation will limit the risk to low and moderate.

driven by temperatures in the 20s and low humidity

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Saturday, June 24, 2023

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The extreme wildfire risk covers much of the same area as yesterday, but with temperatures remaining in the 20s and fairly dry conditions, the area that can expect high risk conditions has expanded greatly. Rainfall in the Fort Frances and Atikokan area will bring the wildfire risk down to low and moderate for today.

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Friday, June 23, 2023

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We’re continuing to see the area of extreme wildfire risk in Northern Ontario shrink as a cold front pushes through the region. High temperatures in the upper teens and low 20s help in limiting the extreme risk, but a lack of precipitation means that widespread high risk is still present.

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Thursday, June 22, 2023

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The extreme wildfire risk for today has shrunk eastwards with the expansion of moderate risk in Northwestern Ontario due to some light rain and a cold front that’s slowly making its way across Northern Ontario. The only areas that can expect low risk today are around Kenora and Fort Severn. High temperatures will still reach the upper 20s and low 30s across most of the region which will maintain the widespread high to extreme risk.

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Wednesday, June 21, 2023

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Very high temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s continue to be the main driver for a large area of extreme wildfire risk in Northern Ontario. Along the Manitoba border, the risk is low to moderate as a result of precipitation in the area.

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Tuesday, June 20, 2023

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High temperatures approaching, and possibly exceeding, 30°C will be the driving factor for a large area of extreme wildfire risk that is expected in Northern Ontario tomorrow.

MANITOBA: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Monday, June 19, 2023

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An extended period of dry conditions, along with temperatures reaching above 25°C and strong winds, means that a large area of Southern Manitoba can expect high wildfire risk today and a pocket of extreme risk that includes Winnipeg. Rain from storms over the next two days should help to lower the risk, but lightning strikes are a concern.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Saturday, June 17, 2023

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No major changes in the wildfire risk are expected for the Prairies today. The area of low risk in Northern Alberta and Saskatchewan is beginning to shrink and we’re seeing a subsequent expansion of high risk with overall limited precipitation needed to keep the risk low. There’s also a slight expansion to the moderate and high risk area in Northwestern Alberta that is once again being driven by strong winds.

NORTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Saturday, June 17, 2023

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Most of Northern Ontario can expect a high wildfire risk today and the area of moderate risk continues to shrink following the heavy rain from Monday and into Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to rise, with highs approaching 30°C beginning Monday so it is likely that we will see the return of extreme fire risk.

SOUTHERN ONTARIO: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Saturday, June 17, 2023

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High wildfire risk returns to a large part of Southern Ontario today with no rain expected and temperatures in the low to mid 20s. There will continue to be a small patch of low risk in the Niagara Region and moderate risk in Southwestern Ontario as well as in Prince Edward County and east to include Kingston and Brockville.

PRAIRIES: Wildfire Risk Forecast for Friday, June 16, 2023

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Precipitation and high temperatures below 20°C are maintaining the low wildfire risk in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. In Northwestern Alberta, the risk becomes high, including Grande Prairie and Peace River, due to stronger winds expected today. In Southern Saskatchewan and most of Manitoba, there was been less precipitation and this results in a high wildfire risk for that region.