Airdrie may very well beat a weather record on Wednesday.

Natalie Hazel, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada said that in 2016 Airdrie's highest recorded temperature was 27.8. if the weather forecast is correct, Airdrie will beat that record by .2 degrees. Although another record was set 126 years ago in 1897, Hazel noted that these records are not factored in when looking at record-breaking temperatures.

And while many residents are literally and figuratively basking in the May heatwave, the almost double average temperatures and the dry winds that have swept much of the province have made the risk of wildfires high. Although Hazel underlined that a portion of the prairies has seen quite a bit of precipitation, the Airdrie area has been dry.

"April was well below normal. So, you're definitely in part of the part of the prairies that's been quite dry," she said. 

The City of Airdrie declared a fire advisory for the city, following suit with Rocky View County, and neighbouring Mountainview County. While the fire advisory will be in effect till conditions improve, the City underlined that there may be further restrictions on campfires if the dry weather continues. 

Though the area has not experienced any wildfires, two wildfires in Northern Alberta have been deemed out of control. A wildfire in Parkland County, several kilometres southeast of Entwistle forced some residents to evacuate, though according to county officials, residents were allowed to return home on Tuesday, May 2. However, according to Alberta Wildfire, weather conditions are expected to remain hot and dry with winds. The fire danger was noted as high on Tuesday. Another wildfire in Yellowhead County, approximately 7 kilometres northwest of Evansburg on both sides of Highway 22, 3 km north of Highway 16 has burned 2,386 hectares thus far.

"An evacuation order is currently in place for affected areas in Yellowhead County. The evacuation order will remain in place until it is determined that residents can safely return to their homes and there is no risk to residents or infrastructure," Alberta Wildfire stated on Tuesday.

With some of the lowest precipitation being recorded in the Airdrie area, the danger of a wildfire in the area is relatively high. However, temperatures are expected to be lower by the end of the week, with a chance of rain for the weekend. Hazel added that while there may be some precipitation the way, the above-average temperatures will continue. 

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