Summer goes down swinging: Heat warnings issued for Calgary and southern Alberta

It might be the end of August, but there's no end in sight when it comes to the warmth.

The majority of southern Alberta is now under a heat warning that's expected to last into the weekend.

Highs are forecast to be near 30 C in Calgary and as far north as Red Deer, Innisfail, Ponoka and Stettler, according to Environment Canada.

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Only the mountains to the west are spared the latest heat wave, thanks to cooler nights.

The agency said warnings are issued when temperatures are expected to "reach or exceed 29 C and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to remain above or at 14 C for two consecutive days."

Hot summer and spring

Hot days and warm eveningshaven't been a rare occurrence this spring and summer.

Near the end of July, Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips said there hadn't been a warmer May, June and July in Calgary since records began in 1881.

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In July, the temperature hit 29 C or above eighttimes, with another six days less than one degree below the threshold.

In August, Calgary has been a bit cooler, with only three days bursting through the 29 C mark and another three less than onedegree shy of that high temperature.

Relief for some

The city should see some relief by Friday, with a forecast high of 23 C, but other regions will continue to swelter, with Lethbridgearound 30 C through the weekend. The story is similar for the area around Medicine Hat, with a forecast high on Wednesday of 36 C.

Environment Canada urges people to drink plenty of water, find shady spots to rest and to watch for symptoms of heat illness likedizziness, rapid breathing and heartbeat or"decreased urination with unusually dark urine."

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