Abnormally hot and dry weather is set to return to Alberta on Thursday after a couple of cooler days helped calm wildfires that have forced thousands of evacuations and disrupted production in Canada's main oil-rich province.
Record-high temperatures and tinder-dry vegetation have led to an intense, early start to wildfire season in western Canada this year. Weather forecasters see no improvement in conditions at least until next week.
More than 2,500 firefighters, including personnel from Canadian and U.S. agencies, and the Canadian army, have been battling the wildfires. As of Wednesday, many people had been allowed to return, and only about 12,000 remained under evacuation orders thanks to a cold front this week that helped firefighting.
"Winds have weakened today across most of the province and temperatures are near normal for this time of year, but things will start to change tomorrow," Christie Tucker, an Alberta Wildfire official, said on Wednesday.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canada's Alberta braces for wildfires to spread as winds shiftTinder-dry weather and shifting winds in Alberta on Tuesday elevated the risk of spreading wildfires in the Canadian oil-producing province where thousands have already been forced from their homes.
Read more »
Canada's Alberta blanketed by smoke as wildfire-battle continuesSmoke blanketed the skies over much of Alberta on Wednesday as firefighters from Canada and the United States battled raging wildfires that have prompted evacuations, disrupted rail service and shuttered energy production in Canada's main oil-producing province.
Read more »
Separatists fed up with Trudeau want province to break away from Canada, become 51st stateA separatist group in Alberta, Canada, is aiming to educate Canadians in the province about the possibility of seceding from Canada to join the U.S. amid anger at the government.
Read more »
Jayden Dalke's winding road: From northern Alberta work camps to life as a RoughriderDefensive back Jayden Dalke has had an unorthodox path to his job with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Read more »