Like many other concerned residents who came out to observe Monday evening, a family watches the fire from River Road. (Submitted/Taylor Chalupiak)

By Joanie Olson

Hot day ahead

Heat and winds to add challenges to firefight in Prince Albert

May 18, 2021 | 12:40 PM

It’s another hot day in the forecast for Prince Albert and the surrounding area and wind gusts will make life challenging on the Nisbet Forest wildfire.

A high of 26 degrees with only a small chance of showers won’t be good for the uncontained wildfire on the northeast edge of town.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang said humidity levels will be quite low which is troublesome for fire behavior. Winds will also rise significantly today.

“Another hot day; temps reaching high 20s and humidity quite low, which is troublesome with respect to fire behavior and that type of thing, something to keep in mind. We are expecting winds to … be particularly strong late this afternoon and into the evening,” said Lang.

Lang stated the weather system bringing snow to the north and heat to the south is bringing in heavy winds.

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She said wind gusts of 30 to 60 kilometres an hour from the west or southwest are expected. At least that’s a good direction for the wind to be moving today. Fire officials said the fire was moving in a northeast direction, away from the city.

“Unfortunately, not too much in the way of precipitation at all coming through the central sections. There is a system to the north and that is bringing precipitation but not able to squeeze out anything for central sections and that continues for several days according to weather models.” said Lang.

A cold front bringing cooler temps and higher humidity in the next several days will be good for crews on the fire.

Lang said when it is this hot, dry and windy, people need to be extra vigilant when dealing with anything that can cause a fire.

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joan.olson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @olson_joanie