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By Darren Rathwell

Medicine Hat prime area for more extreme heat events in future

Apr 27, 2022 | 9:56 AM

A new report finds Medicine Hat is a prime area for potential extreme heat events in the decades to come.

The report from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo predicts that the number of days that see temperatures over 30 degrees in Medicine Hat will double to more than 50.

Researchers also predicts the average length of a heatwave will expand, and the hottest temperature it reaches will increase from 36 degrees to at least 39.

The study examines changes it predicts will take place between 2051 and 2080.

Joanna Eqyquem with the centre says typically flooding and wildfires have people’s attention, but hot weather will become increasingly an issue as well.

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“Canada is not used to that, we’re not acclimatized to extreme heat. We have a cold weather mentality where we’re all worried about heating our homes but we need to worry about cooling our buildings and cooling our homes moving forward.”

Eqyquem says areas like ours are cited as being at risk for heatwaves partially for being in southern regions, but also from being heat sinks, with concrete causing the absorption of heat.

Medicine Hat is one a handful of communities in nearby regions cited at risk by report, including Lethbridge, Taber, Drumheller and Maple Creek.

The study’s authors suggest increasing vegetation around your home outside to help cool things off. Other suggestions include ensuring your home’s insulation will adequately trap colder air.

The complete study can be found here.