Plenty of sun is on the horizon for the long weekend — but the thermal blanket that’s enveloped central Alberta is set to momentarily lift in many regions.
Alberta Environment stated that extreme heat is expected to ease for some parts of the province as the long weekend begins.
Red Deer’s high is expected to be 25 Celsius on Saturday — a more balmy temperature than Friday’s forecasted high of 30 C. There’s also a 30 per cent chance of showers, which could cool things down.
However, the mercury is expected to rise to 29 C again on Sunday, when full sun is expected.
And Monday’s high is forecasted to be 26 C with sun.
On Friday, heat alerts were issued for the regions around Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Eckville, Lacombe, Ponoka, Bowden, Innisfail, Pine Lake, Stettler and Big Valley. Residents and visitors to these regions were advised to take the following precautions to protect themselves, their families and their neighbours:
- Consider rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler hours.
- Take frequent breaks in cooled indoor spaces where possible.
- Drink plenty of water and non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated.
- Check for children or pets before exiting vehicles.
Symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion are a high body temperature, lack of sweat, confusion, fainting, and unconsciousness.
More severe effects of heat can be felt by infants, children, seniors, and people with pre-existing lung, heart, kidney, nervous system, mental health or diabetic conditions, as well as outdoor workers and socially isolated people.