Canada’s first heat warning of 2019 appears in… Fort Liard

Fort Liard is the subject of a heat warning for Monday and Tuesday, with expected daytime highs above 30C and overnight lows in the teens.

The Weather Network, reporting the warning, said it was Canada’s first of the year.

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s advisory extends north to the community of Nahanni Butte, but no such warning was in place for Fort Simpson or Sambaa K’e.

On Monday, the forecast in Fort Liard called for Monday and Tuesday highs of 32C.

Residents were urged to watch for signs of heat illness, like swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, or heat exhaustion – and to make sure they, their relatives, and neighbours were cool and drinking water.

The threshold for heat warnings is different for each region of Canada.

In the Northwest Territories, advisories are triggered when daytime highs are expected to reach 29C, and nighttime minimums remain at 14C or above, for two days in a row.

By contrast, some areas of British Columbia need daytime highs of 35C for a heat warning to be issued. Other parts of Canada – like the Yukon and some Atlantic regions – have a lower threshold of 28C.