@NationalWeatherService

A sprawling heat dome expected to settle over the western United States this weekend is forecast to expand into parts of western Canada, bringing several days of unusually hot weather and increasing concerns about wildfire conditions across the Prairies. A large area of high pressure is expected to develop during one of the hottest periods of the year in the U.S., pushing temperatures well above seasonal values across parts of the Rockies and northern Plains before extending north of the border. In an interview, retired Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips said Canadians have already seen how the weather pattern can spread beyond the U.S. “It’s like putting a lid over a large section of geography, and this time it’s going to be over the western part of the United States and it’s going to again seep into Canada.” Phillips noted southern Prairie communities are expected to feel the greatest impact, saying the event is notable because many Prairie regions have not experienced prolonged heat since a brief warm spell in late May.