Environment Canada has heat warnings out for many areas including Saskatoon, Kindersley, Martensville, Outlook, and Prince Albert areas. Daytime temperatures are forecast to be in the low to mid thirties. These temperatures are expected to persist into next week. The warnings will expand to include all of southern and central Saskatchewan in the next 24 hours.
A special air quality statement has been issued for Saskatoon, and Prince Albert areas as well as the RM of Viscount. Numerous forest fires in northern Saskatchewan are producing reduced visibilities in smoke and poor air quality for communities downwind. Winds will shift today, improving air quality in central regions, but moving the forest fire smoke northward, causing poor air quality for communities in northern Saskatchewan. Conditions will improve Thursday.
(red is heat warnings, grey is air quality statements – some overlap)
The province issued an alert Tuesday night that forest fires caused by lightning strikes have approached to less than one kilometre from the La Ronge Dam. Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) fire response teams were on-site or in the area to monitor the fire and respond as needed. the province says that highly flammable materials are on-site at the dam. At the same time though, it is reported that there is no risk that the fire will cause the dam to fail.
The public should avoid the area surrounding La Ronge Dam.