Rain to help Alberta wildfires, but lightning and winds loom in the horizon

As rain starts to move across Alberta and across Canada, hoping to douse 447 wildfires, meteorologists say it’s not enough to halt the worst wildfire season of the 21st century.

“Unfortunately, we are not expecting to see enough precipitation to make a huge effect on this situation at this time, especially with how dry it is,” said Sara Hoffman, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“But again, any rain is appreciated and definitely helps.”

There are 79 active wildfires in Alberta, according to the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard, and nearly 30 are considered out-of-control.

In addition, 447 active fires burn across Canada on Tuesday afternoon, with 226 listed as out of control.

Alberta has seen over 1.4 million hectares burned this wildfire season, which typically ends in October.

The second highest is from 1981 when 1,357,306 hectares burned. That record was broken on Monday.

Oh hey, Alberta has seen 1,400,021 hectares burned so far this wildfire season.

That's the biggest burn for wildfire season on record.

Of note- Wildfire season runs until October 31st. #yeg #yyc #abwildfire pic.twitter.com/RPvNGx96yE

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) June 12, 2023

Meanwhile, rain is also in the forecast for a large portion of Western Canada, but along with it, thunderstorms and a risk of lightning. About 14,000 people remained out of their homes in Alberta.

“I know things are starting to improve in many places across the country,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Ottawa.

“There’s lots of Canadians still struggling. Lots of families and communities still affected by it.”

Dropping temperatures and rain could help quench an out-of-control fire that continues to pose a danger to the community of Edson, Alta., west of Edmonton.

It remains under an evacuation order, along with Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Area 4, Yellowhead County, Fox Lake, and Fort Chipewyan.

Brazeau County, Garden River, MD Greenview, and Woodlands County are under an evacuation alert, warning residents to prepare to evacuate the area within 30 minutes of being notified.

Christine Beveridge, Edson’s chief administrative officer, said they are hopeful with cooler temperatures and some precipitation forecast for the area in the coming days.

The 2,042-square-kilometre fire remains 1.5 kilometres from the community, and its 8,400 residents remain under an evacuation order.

The changing weather is also expected to move wildfire smoke back over southern portions of the Prairies, especially in Alberta, as the week progresses.

Elsewhere, a storm is forecast to move into northeastern British Columbia, where officials describe a “volatile and rapidly evolving” wildfire situation.

Environment Canada said a system could dump up to 25 millimetres of rain over the parched Peace River region, but would likely be followed by thunderstorms and winds gusting at 60 km/h.

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• Edson couple evacuates with 12 senior rescue dogs after latest wildfire

• Thousands evacuated from Edson for 2nd time due to wildfire

Meanwhile, 2,700 firefighters and personnel continue to work on the fires across the province.

In addition, Alberta Wildfire says 375 wildfires in Alberta are human-caused, which covers everything from recreational fires to “agricultural incidents” and fires caused by people on residential land. Human-caused wildfires make up more than half of all wildfires yearly.

About five per cent of fires annually are tied to incendiary events/arson.

About 134 were caused by lightning, and 126 are still under investigation.

-With files from Courtney Theriault