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Meteorologist explains heat warnings

Jun 19, 2018 | 10:00 AM

With the temperatures getting warmer outside, one meteorologist said it’s important to understand why heat warnings are issued and what the heat can do.

Environment Canada changed the system they use to issue heat warnings in order to better serve both northern and southern Saskatchewan. Terri Lang, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, explained the change.

“Before, we had a very high threshold for heat,” Lang said. “We found that it was rarely reached, and it wasn’t really reflecting what happened. There [are] separate criteria for northern and southern Saskatchewan. We’re looking for a high temperature of 29 C, including humidex and an overnight low greater than 14 C, lasting for two days.”

With scorching temperatures expected to hit the province over the next few days, Lang said issuing a heat warning is extremely important to the health of Canadians.

“Most people can stand a full day of heat,” Lang said, but noted the health effects become cumulative over several consecutive days of extreme heat. When the heat warnings do come up, there are some precautionary steps that can be taken to make sure people are safe from the heat.

“Keep yourself hydrated,” Lang said. “Seek shade as much as you can and find places you can cool off, like the lake, spray park, anywhere with air conditioning so your body can recover a little bit more.”

Lang said the difficult part about beating the heat is that when it comes down to it, everyone handles it differently.

“It’s not like UV where 15 minutes [and] you’ll burn,” Lang said. “Your body gets accustomed to the heat as the season goes on. It differs from person to person.”

 

brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangCJNB