The first official heat wave of the summer is now over, with temperatures last week pushing past 30 degrees Celsius for most of the week, along with a day of watching the skies after Environment Canada issued a tornado watch for a large part of northeastern Alberta on Thursday.
And although the extreme heat eased on Friday, the air was filled with thick smoke, reportedly blown in from forest fires elsewhere in the province.
According to Environment Canada’s historical data, the average temperature for July in this part of Alberta, as recorded at the St. Lina weather station, is just over 22 degree Celsius. Last week, residents were trying to beat the heat in a number of ways as temperatures went nearly 10 degrees higher than the average.
Although many people complain about the heat, Miranda Leroux enjoyed last week’s above average temperatures.
“I loved the heat,” she said, adding, “People leave this country to find this heat.”
Leroux spent her week taking her young children to the lake or river to cool down and found comfort sleeping in the family’s air-conditioned camper at night.
But for those who attempted to visit the spray park at Westcove on Vincent Lake, there was some disappointment mid-week when the park had to be closed as the water’s pH levels “had gotten out of whack,” says Sheila Kitz, CAO for the County of St. Paul.
The water used at the spray park is hauled in from St. Paul, and is recycled after it is used, and chlorinated. It runs similar to a swimming pool, she explains, and the pH is checked daily. Once levels were back to normal, the park was reopened, although some rain may have resulted in another closure on Thursday morning, says Kitz.
But by Friday, the park was “ready to go.”
Kitz says that Westcove Park and all other county parks have been very busy this summer.
Although the spray park was up and running by the weekend, Alberta Health Services issued a blue-green algae advisory for Vincent Lake on Thursday, cautioning people to stay out of the water and avoid contact with the shoreline.
“Blue-green algae are currently present in the waters of Vincent Lake, located north of St. Paul,” said a press release dated July 12. Residents and campers were being told not to drink the water or consume any fish from the lake. Swimming or wading in the water was also not advised.
“Blue-green algae produce a toxin (poison) that can cause serious illness to animals or humans who drink or have skin contact with water containing this toxin,” says the release. “The toxin can stay in the water even after algae have moved or disappeared.”
The advisory is in effect until further notice.
Symptoms of coming in contact with blue-green algae can include skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea, and vomiting/diarrhea. Symptoms generally appear within a couple hours of being in contact with the algae and resolve within a day or two.
“People who consume contaminated water as a primary source for drinking water can develop more serious illnesses, such as liver damage, over time,” says the release. A similar advisory was issued for Moose Lake earlier in the week.
