Near-record temperatures strained power systems on Tuesday to the point that rolling outages were implemented throughout the province, including in the City of Red Deer.
City officials issued a release late Tuesday afternoon stating that rolling outages had started at 4:33 p.m. at the request of the Alberta Electric System Operator.
Portions of Red Deer were affected, starting at 4:33 p.m. from north Red Deer, and both sides of Gaetz Avenue from Hwy 11A to 67th Street, including both residential and business areas.
The outage was expected to last 45 minutes. Peak power usage is 5 to 7 p.m.
“There is an increased demand resulting from warm temperatures, and with those temperatures expected to continue, we are requesting residents of Red Deer to be frugal with their energy use,” said Jim Jorgensen, Electric Light and Power Department manager.
Traffic signals in the city were affected.
Motorists approaching areas where signals were down were offered the following tips:
• Treat intersections with traffic lights out as four-way stops, with the person on the right having the right-of-way.
• Enter intersections or highways only when it is safe to do so, using turn signals to let other drivers and pedestrians know your intentions.
• Obey law enforcement officers who are directing traffic.
• Use common courtesy towards other drivers and pedestrians.
Extreme heat conditions were not expected to last.
Warnings of thunderstorms with potential for large hail were issued for western areas of the region on Tuesday afternoon and early evening, to be followed by cooler weather and showers. Red Deer’s forecast called for slight cooling with “the odd shower,” said Environment Canada meteorologist John McIntyre.
Stettler fell about four degrees short of its July 2 record, set at 34.4 in 1929.
Hot, humid weather blew up from the United States, but would be replaced late Tuesday by westerlies blowing in from the West Coast, McIntyre said from his office in Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon.
Red Deer’s daytime high had hit 31.4C by mid-afternoon and was still rising, he said.
However, the upward trend was expected to be cut short by thunderstorms before hitting the record mark of 37.2, set in 1924.
While the actual temperature on Tuesday didn’t hit the 90-year-old record, it may have felt that way.
Combined with 61 per cent humidity, afternoon temperatures felt like 40 by 2 p.m. McIntyre said his records don’t show whether the people who suffered through the 1924 heat wave experienced a similar effect from high humidity.
At other sites in the region, Rocky Mountain House came closer to a new high, reaching 32.1 in the middle of the afternoon, less than two degrees of its record high of 33.9, also set in 1924.
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com