Western Canada is facing a natural disaster as extreme heat has led to raging wildfires and rapidly melting snow has resulted in severe flooding in parts of British Columbia. More than 13,000 people were ordered to evacuate in Alberta where over 70 fires were actively burning. The Little Red River Cree Nation was one of the most severely hit areas, where 20 homes and the police station were consumed by the 1,458-hectare fire.
According to a recent survey by the Canadian government, the western and central regions of the country, which are home to large parts of the agricultural land, are experiencing “abnormally dry” conditions and “severe drought” in some places. There have already been 348 wildfires in Alberta this year, burning through 25,000 hectares of land, according to Christie Tucker, an information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire. She stated that this is significantly more wildfire activity than any time in the recent past.
The situation is expected to worsen as the heatwave intensifies. Tucker warned that “It’s going to get hotter, it’s going to get windier, and we are expecting some extreme wildfire behaviour. Firefighters are at the ready today for what could be an extremely challenging Day.” The wildfires are spreading rapidly, and the authorities are struggling to contain them.
In the Province of British Columbia, fires continue to rage inland while floods batter the southern region. The rapidly melting snow from the heat has overwhelmed rivers and burst through banks, causing widespread flooding. The situation is expected to worsen as heavy rains and thunderstorms are forecasted over the weekend.
The provincial authorities have released a statement warning that severe flooding is possible, and extreme flooding is plausible in areas that receive high rainfall. The peak river levels are expected between Saturday and Monday, and the authorities are urging residents to stay safe and take necessary precautions.
Western Canada experienced a cold spring up until last week when the quick rise in temperature, 10-15 degrees Celsius above the average for this time of the year, led to both fires and flooding. This is not the first-time global warming and extreme weather are wreaking havoc in the region. Two years ago, a “historic” heat dome in British Columbia claimed hundreds of lives and was followed by major fires. The current situation highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change.
