As more than 1,000 firefighters battle the out-of-control wildfires in British Columbia, Environment Canada鈥檚 senior climatologist about what鈥檚 causing the hazardous conditions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been too dry, too hot, for too long,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like putting a giant dome over Western Canada, particularly in British Columbia and it鈥檚 not allowing any weather to come in.鈥�
According to Phillips, interior B.C. hasn鈥檛 seen rain in 28 days and hasn鈥檛 had more than a 鈥渢himble-full鈥� in 53 days.
The lack of air combined with record-high temperatures, humidity levels comparable to those you see in a desert, and wind gusts mean perfect conditions for wildfires, says Phillips.
He adds that because the fires are all over the place, emergency services can鈥檛 mobilize to one area, making it difficult to gain control.
As for what鈥檚 in store for the future, Phillips says that there might be 鈥渁 little bit of relief tomorrow,鈥� as temperatures drop to a more seasonable range.
As for long-term, Phillips says things will be much of the same.
鈥淭his will the summer of the fire,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he rest of July and August will be warmer than normal and drier than normal.鈥�
As the dome of hot weather moves eastward, Phillips says that everyone is on high-alert for potential forest fires.
鈥淭he threat is there for all of Western Canada,鈥� he said.
But Phillips assures anyone further east of Manitoba that there isn鈥檛 anything to worry about, there鈥檚 been way too much rain for grassfires, forest fires or wildfires.
