(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Drench or Drizzle

Change in weather is expected to help ground crews battle Fort à la Corne fire

May 20, 2020 | 1:27 PM

Damp, humid weather is expected to improve the fire situation at Fort à la Corne Forest east of Prince Albert over the next couple of days.

Steve Roberts with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency noted in a media conference late Wednesday morning that current conditions are allowing crews to battle the fire on the ground level.

“Even today cooler temperatures (and) overcast skies are reducing the fire behaviour allowing us to tighten up current control lines,” Roberts said. “We are looking at a weather system coming in over the next 36 hours that is bringing even cooler temperatures and precipitation and that will certainly help the ground crews.”

In the last week and half, Roberts noted they have been contending with gusting wind, lack of rain and dry conditions.

The Public Safety Agency’s meteorologist and two fire weather forecasters help provide long term and daily projections that break down weather patterns and behaviour. Roberts said meteorological information is very important as it allows for fire planning as well provide key information in keeping crews safe.

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Meteorologist with Environment Canada, Terri Lang told paNOW humidity may help crews, but rain amounts might be minimal for the Prince Albert region.

“They might catch a few thundershowers but certainly not as much as more western sections are going to get,” Lang explained.

“There’s a fine line between who is going to get most of the rain and who isn’t, and it runs about north – south through the middle of the province. Unfortunately, most easterly sections won’t see much in the way of rain fall. More westerly sections, towards North Battleford and Meadow Lake, they’re probably going to see a lot of rain. We’re talking 50 mm or so,” Lang noted.

Based on high-end projections, Prince Albert could see a potential 5 to 10 millimetres over the next two days.

Once this weather system passes Lang predicted the region will see a return to seasonal values.

She advised residents, the province is entering severe weather season and to be prepared for thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds. Lang said it’s important you have a plan should severe weather appear.

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Ron.Quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni