Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for parts of eight provinces and the Northwest Territories.

Temperatures in B-C’s southern Interior are expected to climb into the high 30’s and low 40s this week while parts of Saskatchewan, mostly north of Saskatoon, although the Battlefords are included in the heat warnings, will also see extremely hot temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius combined with overnight lows in the mid-teens or greater until later this week.

The Special Air Quality Statement impacts both Saskatoon and Regina.  Smoke is causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility to much of southern Saskatchewan. Environment Canada says a weak surface level ridge is concentrating wildfire smoke at the surface. The smoke plume will be moving south and east throughout the day. Smoke is expected to slowly disperse, improving conditions by Monday evening.