Heat warning issued for the city on weekend

By Lethbridge Herald on July 22, 2023.

Al Beeber
LETHBRIDGE HERALD

A heat warning has been issued for Lethbridge by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

After a high of 32C on Friday, the mercury is expected to rise to 36C today through Monday before southern Alberta cools off slightly Tuesday when the high is only expected to be 29C. 

That daily high will stay consistent through all of next week when minimal amounts of precipitation are forecast for Thursday and Friday.

Temperatures will cool at night but only to around 16C.

Also included in the warning are Medicine Hat, Calgary and other communities in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The City of Lethbridge is extending its spray park hours from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. instead of the usual hours of 10 a.m. until 8.

The City is also reminding residents of the new water filling stations to help keep hydrated.

Those stations are now open at Legacy, Nicholas Sheran and Henderson Lake parks as well as Galt Gardens.

Several local service organizations are available to help those without shelter during extreme temperatures, says the City.

Those include Lethbridge Stabilization Centre and Shelter, Wood’s Homes Youth Connections, YWCA Harbour House, Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society, Streets Alive Mission, Lethbridge Public Library Main Branch, Lethbridge Soup Kitchen and SAGE Clan.

Residents and visitors are advised to take precautions to protect themselves from harm caused by the heat.

They include:

• Rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler hours of the day.

• Taking frequent breaks from the heat, spending time in cooled indoor spaces where possible.

• Drinking plenty of water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated.

• Checking children or pets before leaving a vehicle and not leaving anyone or any animal in a closed vehicle for any length of time.

People should also monitor themselves and others for symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. 

Those symptoms can include high body temperature, a lack of sweat, confusion, fainting and unconsciousness.

Close attention should be paid to infants, children, seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions, those who are socially isolated and outdoor workers.

Alberta Health Services recommends that anyone planning to be outdoors when a heat warning is in effect should apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 a minimum of 20 minutes before heading outside.

AHS also recommends people wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with a UVA/UVB CSA certified seal and also wear light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and pants that cover the skin.

Anyone who starts to feel overheated should immediately stop activity, look for shade and start drinking fluids.

Medical attention should be sought immediately if a person feels faint. 

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