Southern Alberta continues to experience heavy rainfall as June comes to a close. Lethbridge is on track to record approximately 130 millimetres of rain for the month, well above seasonal norms.
Impact on Golf Courses and Mosquito Populations
The persistent wet weather has left golf courses waterlogged, leading to course closures and reduced traffic. According to local operators, the record rainy June has significantly affected their business, with fewer golfers braving the damp conditions.
Meanwhile, the rain has created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. Stores report low supplies of bug spray as residents try to protect themselves from the surge in mosquito populations. Health officials advise using repellent and eliminating standing water to reduce breeding sites.
Air Quality and Other Weather Alerts
Calgary is under an air quality warning as smoke from wildfires in Saskatchewan blows into the region, Environment Canada reported. The combination of rain and smoke has created hazy conditions in parts of southern Alberta.
Multiple weather advisories have been issued across the Prairies, including rainfall warnings for Yorkton and much of eastern Saskatchewan, and thunderstorm watches for Manitoba. One tornado was confirmed in Saskatchewan on June 28, with another possible, according to the Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Broader Context
The heavy rain is part of a wider pattern of extreme weather affecting Canada. A heat wave is gripping Ontario and Quebec, with humidex values expected to climb into the 40s. In Manitoba, evacuations are complete in a town where crews are fighting to keep a wildfire at bay.
The wet June in southern Alberta stands in contrast to the dry conditions that often trigger wildfire concerns. While the rain has caused disruptions, it has also helped reduce fire risk in the region.
