UPDATE: Relief and risk for wildfires, storms ahead in West

Monday, July 13, 2015, 9:31 AM - It's been a heated summer in Canada's West so far, with a drought in British Columbia as wildfires claim more than 2,600,000 hectares of land nationwide.

Fortunately, Sunday's wet weather provided some relief to the crews fighting wildfires in B.C., but lightning strikes sparked approximately 60 new wildfires across B.C. over the weekend.

Kevin Skrepnek, a B.C. Wildfire Service spokesman, says though the rain has provided a temporary reprieve from current wildfires, it's still too early in the season to expect the progress to last, CTV reports.

"We need to ensure that people aren't getting complacent as a result of this rain," Skrepnek added.

The current wildfires in Western Canada have the potential to exhaust fire resources nation-wide, the latest report from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) says. Already, soldiers and foreign firefighters from Mexico, Australia and New Zealand have been called in for Saskatchewan, which has been hardest hit.

52 Australian firefighters are expected to arrive in B.C. on Monday to assist with relief efforts, CTV reports.

On Wednesday, soldiers started assisting crews battling wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

The added efforts have made an impact.

According to Steve Roberts of Saskatchewan Wildfire Management, the crews' progress created better visibility, allowing aircraft to unload water on the flames, the Canadian Press reports.

Here's a glance at weather conditions to come for fire crews and evacuees.

Saskatchewan & Manitoba

So far, approximately 13,000 residents in northern Saskatchewan have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfire threats.

Fortunately, the risk has lessened for some. Some of evacuees have already been escorted home as the fires in northern Saskatchewan have stabilized, officials said.

Central and northern Saskatchewan along with southern Manitoba will see the heaviest rainfall in the week ahead, says Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg. A series of lows will likely develop this week, bringing a widespread thunderstorm risk spanning across the Prairies.

Although heavy downpours may help ease the impact of wildfires, the thunderstorm risk does not.

“With the thunderstorm potential this week, keep in mind that many wildfires are initiated due to lightning," says Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg. "And we usually do see frequent lightning with thunderstorms so that will be a concern."

Lightning causes 42 per cent of all wildfires in Canada, according to Canadian Geographic.

Since June 26, 119 wildfires have started in Manitoba, most of which were started by lightning, according to the Government of Manitoba.

Smoke from wildfires burning in the West is expected to continue to impact Manitoba in the week ahead.

Alberta

Warm temperatures are expected to continue in the Prairies, but models are indicating cooler air for Alberta from mid- to late-week, says Sonnenburg, adding that no heat warnings should be in place.

The southern Prairies can expect to feel humidity in the week to come. "The humidity means there's more moisture in the environment, which means if we do see thunderstorms there's a larger risk for downpours and heavier rain.

The heavy rainfall and the anticipation of more precipitation has been a major advantage for evacuees from the bustling Maligne Valley, the CBC reports. "It means the 50-square-kilometre fire that forced the evacuation of 1,000 tourists, hikers, and campers ... hasn't gotten any bigger."

Sonnenburg says the much-needed rain accompanying the systems this week will give some relief to the wildfires, with some areas expecting to see upwards 50 mm of rain.

B.C.

Fire crews in B.C. have contained just under a third of the Puntzi Lake wildfire after it more than doubled in size this weekend. Recent rainfall is reported to have helped in fighting the 70-square-kilometre blaze.

The fire continues in B.C.'s Cariboo region, having already destroyed a hunting and fishing lodge, two permanent homes, and one seasonal residence, CP reports.

Monday will bring light showers to the Lower Mainland. The humidity poses the likelihood of more rainfall, but no major systems are moving through B.C. this week, Sonnenburg adds.

The week ahead won't do much to ease the dry conditions on Canada's West Coast, maintaining the ongoing drought that has impacted the province for the past month.

B.C. wildfires have claimed 215,695 hectares of land in 2015 alone, with approximately 115 wildfires currently ablaze. Two of the province's larger fires, the Boulder Creek and Elaho wildfires, were both lightning-induced.

Air quality advisories remain in effect for parts of B.C. and parts of the Prairies.

Sources: The Weather Network | Canadian Geographic | Government of Manitoba | CBC | BC Wildfire | The Canadian Press | CTV