Banff, Alberta residents and visitors should brace for a mixed bag of weather this week, as Environment Canada warns of a thunderstorm risk and local smoke on Tuesday before conditions clear and turn sunny and warm through Saturday. The forecast comes just days after an orange-level air quality warning was lifted for the Bow Valley due to thick wildfire smoke from British Columbia and Washington State.
Tuesday will bring a 30 percent chance of showers with a risk of a thunderstorm, along with lingering local smoke. Winds are expected to pick up from the southwest at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h, with a daytime high of 25 C. The UV index will reach 7, or high, meaning sun protection is still needed even under partly cloudy skies.
Environment Canada’s forecast shows clearing for the rest of the work week, with sunny skies and highs climbing from 24 C on Wednesday to 28 C by Friday. Saturday is expected to reach 25 C before a cooling trend drops Sunday’s high to 18 C under cloudier skies. The UV index is 7 on Tuesday and Wednesday, so anyone heading into the mountains should pack sunscreen and sunglasses, as higher elevations receive more UV radiation due to thinner air.
The thunderstorm risk on Tuesday is a reminder of the lightning danger that peaks east of the Continental Divide in Alberta’s foothills each summer. According to Environment Canada, lightning kills two to three Canadians per year and injures close to 180, with over 65 percent of injuries and deaths happening during outdoor recreation. Officials stress that when thunder roars, go indoors immediately.
Last week’s thick wildfire smoke prompted an air quality warning for the Bow Valley, with officials noting that during heavy smoke, everyone’s health is at risk. While that warning has since been lifted, Tuesday’s local smoke could still affect those with respiratory sensitivities. Visitors to Banff National Park are urged to check current conditions and be ready for rapid weather changes, a hallmark of mountain environments.
