It would have been easy to mistake the Prairies for the jungle lately as the region has been dealing with an excruciating heat wave.
But residents better get used to it, warned weather expert David Phillips. August is coming with a feverish spirit.
"It's a situation that looks like it's going to continue," Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada, told 麻豆影视. "We think the flavour, the personality of August will be warmer than normal."
Most of Canada is experiencing temperatures over 30 C but residents living in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have had it the worst with temperatures in some areas reaching 48 C on July 24.
This week's forecast called for 36 C in Winnipeg and 37 C in Saskatchewan. Stores have quickly sold out of air conditioners and fans as the region is used to a cooler seasonal norm.
The heat has been so intense, it has fuelled two large forest fires in the northern part of Manitoba. Hundreds of people were forced from their homes because of the smoke.
Phillips said the ongoing heat wave is still cause for concern for crops and vegetation.
"Keep an eye on the forest fire situation, that could grow more serious," Phillips said.
"Of course Prairie farmers now are beginning to think they need the rain to counteract the record breaking temperatures," he added.
And there's a chance more records will be smashed, and not just on the Prairies. By Thursday, most of Canada will be in the red, with daily highs topping 25 degrees.
The heat wave is coming from south of the border and is stretching from coast to coast.
In Atlantic Canada, temperatures soared to 31 C in Nova Scotia, coming just short of breaking a heat record set in 1963. Though both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island issued heat alerts last week, temperatures have since cooled off.
In Toronto, the forecast called for lots of sunshine and 32 C heat.
"This is the second-largest country in the world and to see everybody experiencing these 30-plus temperatures is somewhat unusual," Philips said.
He warned warm air pressure was coming from the Ohio valley, bringing not only heat but smog.
"Not only will there be the heat and humidity but the haze which we will see here in Ontario and Quebec."
But he also pointed out the last week of July and the first week of August are traditionally the hottest of the summer.
With a report from CTV's Jill Macyshon
