Blistering heat wave sweeps through southern Alberta
Just two weeks ago, a thin blanket of snow was draped over much of Lethbridge.
But in typical southern Alberta fashion, the weather has flip-flopped once again bringing on a wave of intense heat.
"The end of May and beginning of June has notoriously been a hot spot for these weather events that we're seeing now," said CTV News Lethbridge Weather Expert Dory Rossiter.
"But, I do think these temperatures come as a little bit of a shock, especially if we've had a cooler spring and then suddenly we have these 30 degree numbers."
Thursday could see the temperature reach up to 35C according to Environment Canada which would break a record for this time of year.
For people that have to work outside, not only are temperatures in the mid 30s a shock, it also can make for a dangerous work environment.
"Problems we run into are dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke," said Z & J Roofing owner Alex Roberts.
A park in Lethbridge, Alta.
"It's really tough. Usually we add to whatever the ground temperature is up on the roof because of the asphalt absorbing all the heat and with the black paper that we use, it absorbs the heat as well."
Adding to the health risks, when the temperature reaches a certain point, shingles will melt on the roof's surface making for slippery and messy conditions.
Some roofing companies are cutting their work days in half and encouraging employees to take frequent breaks to avoid prolonged exposure to the elements.
However, some Lethbridge residents are excited for this heat wave to kick into high gear.
"I absolutely love it. I love the warm weather. I'm just glad to see the back of winter and it can get up to 40 degrees and I'm still going to be completely happy," said one woman walking around Henderson Lake Park.
Others in town will be looking to hunker down in a cool basement with the air conditioning blasting.
"I'll be staying in from the sun and on my walks home I linger a little bit longer towards everybody that has their sprinkler going," said another woman.
As hot as southern Alberta is this week, the real centre of the heat wave is south of the border where core of high pressure is hovering.
"There's parts of northern California that are sitting in the low 40's right now. So, that's where the real epicentre of the heat is. We're just kind of on the northern cusp of that ridge of high pressure," said Rossiter.
A construction worker fends with the heat Wednesday in Lethbridge, Alta.
The heat is expected to span from the B.C. interior through to Manitoba in the next few days.
Medicine Hat is expected to see the hottest temperature in the province on Thursday with an expected high of 37°C.
More information on the health risks of extreme heat events can be found on the Government of Canada website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.