High August heat fuels a week long thunderstorm threat on the Prairies

The week got off to a stormy start on parts of the Prairies with tornado-warned storms pushing through southern Manitoba Monday. Visuals of what appeared to be a funnel cloud surfaced on social media, but ground contact has not been confirmed.

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A renewed thunderstorm risk will bubble up once again on Tuesday, extending from northern British Columbia all the way to to southwestern Manitoba. While there is some uncertainty with the strength of the storms, heavy rain, strong winds and large hail are all on the table.

Much of the Prairies are also in for quite the August sizzle as we kick off the month, with temperatures soaring into the 30s.

Tuesday:

Area: Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Timing: Through the afternoon and evening

Weather: An isolated thunderstorm threat persists into Tuesday, but there is some uncertainty in the strength and impacted areas. Computer models indicate that much of the Prairies will have a chance for thunderstorms rolling through the afternoon and evening.

Stronger storms with large hail and damaging winds are forecast in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where instability is the highest. The storms will set up in two rounds, the first impacting communities right along the U.S border earlier on Tuesday. The second develops close to Saskatoon, and heads east into the evening.

Prepare

Make sure to keep up-to-date on your local forecast information and alerts. If you are outdoors in an area with a severe weather threat, make sure you have a safety plan in place in case you need to get to shelter.

If a severe thunderstorm approaches your location, remain mindful of trees or tree limbs that loom near your home. Trees falling into buildings are a significant source of injury during strong storms. Try to avoid rooms where trees may cause damage during high winds.

The greatest danger in any thunderstorm is lightning. If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning.

The Prairies are also in for a stretch of 30°C temperatures, making for a hot start to August. Warm air from the U.S. will keep many above seasonal this week, especially the south. The heat peaks Wednesday, where Lethbridge, Alberta is expected to be 10-degrees above normal, climbing into the high 30s with full sun.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg, Manitoba is expected to battle a soupy and uncomfortable air mass, feeling like the high 30s. Higher humidity will build on and off across the provinces, fueling more thunderstorm chances until the pattern breaks down on the weekend. Be sure to take extra health precautions until then.

Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across Western Canada.

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