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EDMONTON - Temperature records toppled, grass fires raged and at least one highway was closed for several hours Wednesday as unseasonably warm weather continued in Edmonton and across much of the province.
Nicola Crosbie, chief meteorologist for Global Edmonton, said the temperature hit 11.7 C at the City Centre Airport at around 3 p.m., breaking a record of 8.9 C set on Jan. 4, 1947.
A 98-year record was smashed in Calgary, where the temperature rose to 15.3 C. The day’s previous record of 12.2 C was set in 1914.
The hottest spot in the province Wednesday was Grassy Lake, in southeastern Alberta, which saw a high of 15.5 C.
The coldest spot was Fort Chipewyan, where it was -14.6 C.
As warm temperatures shattered 30 records across the province, high winds stoked two large grass fires in southern Alberta.
At least three homes near Nanton burned in a grass fire that tore through a 60-sq.-kilometre area, requiring 80 firefighters to battle that blaze. Another fire near Fort Macleod raged for hours and forced the closure of Highway 2.
In Calgary, officials warned people to tie down barbecues, outdoor furniture, garbage cans and other items as forecasters called for winds of up to 100 km/h.
The worst damage occurred near Nanton after a power pole was blown over, sparking a grass fire that quickly spread.
Cynthia Vizzutti, chief administrative officer for the Municipal District of Willow Creek, said Wednesday evening the fires near Nanton and Fort Macleod were under control, but many fire departments in the area expected to be out all night putting out hot spots.
“The wind is still howling. It’s a very tenuous situation,” Vizzutti said.
“We’re asking people to please use extreme caution with smoking materials or anything that could possibly start a fire. It’s very dry and the fire can move very fast.”
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Patrick Webb said three homes were burned to some extent in the Nanton-area blaze and more were being checked for damage by emergency crews.
Dozens of homes near both fires were put under voluntary evacuations.
Police said no significant injuries were caused by the fires.
Victor Czop said the wind pushing one fire was so strong he pulled over, worried his car might flip over.
“The fire just raced across the field ... at incredible speed. I don’t know if a person (could) have outdriven it on a gravel road, it was going that quick,” he said.
The winds were also to blame for a minor injury suffered by a construction worker at the new terminal at Calgary International Airport. He was struck by a heavy tarp dislodged about 2:30 p.m. by high winds.
“He was up a ladder, so luckily he didn’t sustain any fall,” EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux said.
In downtown Calgary, several blocks were closed to traffic along 6th Avenue S.W. as the sign at the top of the BMO tower was damaged. A 60-centimetre by three-metre piece of sheet metal was dangling, until the wind calmed sufficiently for emergency crews to remove it, police said.
At 3:40 p.m., the city activated its municipal emergency plan, which gives the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) authority to direct resources.
“Pedestrians and drivers should be cautious when walking outside or driving, especially in open areas,” CEMA said in a statement.
The strong westerly winds developed Wednesday morning. Although they diminished by later afternoon, city officials warned of wind speeds at higher altitudes, where the wind could knock debris from highrises.
“The thermal inversion kept the winds at a higher altitude than we were anticipating, which is good,” said Bruce Burrell, the director of CEMA. “With any luck, we’ll have the same benefit of those temperatures working in our favour.”
This is the second major windstorm to hit Calgary in the past six weeks.
In late November winds reaching 149 km/h caused $200 million in damage, according to insurance companies.
Burrell said city officials learned some lessons from the Nov. 27 windstorm and activated the emergency operations centre earlier this time.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Wea ... story.html
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