Southern Alberta heat tops 34 C as climatologist warns: 'Get used to it'

Southern Alberta's pre-summer heat wave continued Tuesday, with temperatures nearly hitting 35 C in some areas, as Environment Canada issued heat warnings for much of the region.

"A ridge of high pressure combined with warm south winds will result in temperatures continuing significantly above normal for the beginning of the week," the federal agency said on its website.

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"At this time these conditions are expected to persist through Wednesday and possibly into Thursday for some areas."

The province's hottest temperature of the day was 34.6 C in Grassy Lake, Alta., locatedin the far south of the province, while temperatures hovering around29 C hitsouth-central regions.

The spate of temperatures in the upper 20sand low 30s that Calgary and surrounding communities will experience this week is very unusual for this early in June.

But Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips says it's a sign of things to come.

"Hey, my advice, get used to it. This is the kind of beer drinking kind of weather. It's likely to be a pattern you're going to see throughout the summer period," he told Rob Brown on CBC Calgary News at 6.

"Not every day. But certainly these kinds of temperatures are going to be around."

The normal high temperature for Calgary at this time of year is about 20 C.

Heat warnings were issued for several communities, but some dropped on Wednesday morning.

Environment Canada says people should drink lots ofliquids especially water before feeling thirsty to decrease the risk of dehydration, plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day, and take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place.

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