Fire weather forecasts and observations

The AM and PM weather forecasts are written descriptions of forecasted weather conditions that may impact wildfire management.

• AM fire weather forecast (PDF)
• PM fire weather forecast (PDF)
• Weather Forecast Zones map (PDF)
• How to interpret the forecast map

Forecast maps display the maximum temperatures, minimum relative humidity and sustained wind patterns, as well as upper and surface weather systems. Today’s map displays conditions expected at 6 pm on the issuing day and tomorrow’s map displays conditions expected at 6 pm on the following day. AM forecast issued at 10:00 am each day, PM Forecast map issued at 3:00 pm each day.

Today

Tomorrow

The analyzed surface maps display the temperature, dewpoint, wind, precipitation, clouds, smoke and surface weather systems. The AM map displays conditions at 6 am and the PM map displays conditions at noon on the issuing day.  AM analyzed map issued at 9:00 am each day, PM analyzed map issued at 2:00 pm each day.

AM

PM

The daily precipitation map provides a visual representation of the precipitation received in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta in the last 24 hours.

The weekly precipitation map provides a visual representation of the precipitation received in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta in the last 7 days. This map may also be generated after a significant storm.

The monthly precipitation map provides a visual representation of the precipitation received in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta in the last month.

In the weather pattern outlook, the upper maps project the heights in decameter (represented by black solid lines) and isotherms in °C (represented by red dash lines), as well as ridging and troughing patterns expected at 6 am, for 2 to 5 days from the issuing day. Surface maps project the pressure patterns with low and high systems for 6 pm and 12 hour precipitation accumulation (in millimetre) ending by midnight of day 2-5 from the issuing day. These products are updated daily at 09:00 am.

Day 2 upper

Day 2 surface

Day 3 upper

Day 3 surface

Day 4 upper

Day 4 surface

Day 5 upper

Day 5 surface

Vertical wind profile displays the observed wind speed (in knot (one nautical mile per hour)) changes with altitude (in kilometre above ground level) at a weather station. This product is issued at 9:00 am each day or when available.

The Government of Alberta partners with the following outside agencies to upgrade the provincial lightning detection network and share the real-time data:

• Alberta Electrical System Operator
• Altalink
• Fortis
• ATCO Electric
• Parks Canada

In addition, real-time, raw data is shared with the Northwest Territories Department of Renewable Resources to enhance the capabilities of the networks operated by both agencies.

The system uses a unique characteristic of cloud-to-ground lightning – its waveform – to accurately differentiate it from cloud-to-cloud discharges and calculate its location.

The initiation of the cloud-to-ground strike releases an intense, short burst of electrical energy. This rapid burst of energy travels through the atmosphere much as radio waves do. The most unique characteristic of the waveform is its extremely rapid rise to peak energy.

This distinctive feature of cloud-to-ground lightning provides the means for real-time detection. The sensors also use time of arrival of the lightning signature and GPS location to accurately determine the position.

How we detect lightning

The primary components of the LLP lightning detection system are:

• lightning sensors
• CP7000
• display systems

Raw lightning data is received and processed by a sophisticated system. The lightning sensor is the key component of this complex system. The lightning waveform is detected through 3 antennae:

• flat plate electrical field
• GPS receiver
• vertical orthogonal loop

As the waveform passes through the antennae, electrical currents are induced and channelled to the processing electronics. The waveform is then analyzed according to return stroke peak energy rise time and other criteria. Non-lightning waveforms such as radio transmissions are filtered out by this procedure.

When a valid lightning signal is detected, the station records its:

• exact time
• intensity
• number of return strokes
• polarity (negative or positive)
• true bearing from the station are recorded

Dedicated communication lines to the CP7000 then transmit all the data.

CP7000

The CP7000 processes the sensor data to determine lightning locations. It also continuously monitors the status of the sensors and provides synchronization between their internal clocks.

The CP7000 requires data from only 2 sensors to determine a specific flash location. The CP7000 can determine which of the system’s sensors have detected the same flash by comparing the time of the event recorded at each sensor.

The time coincident sensor data are then analyzed to determine the latitude/longitude of the flash. The CP7000 distributes the location data to the various display systems throughout the province.

The Forestry Division uses PC-based display software located at the Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre (AWCC) and at each of the Forest Area Fire Centres. Fire managers can monitor current lightning activity in real time on the display, and they can print hard copy maps for use by aerial patrols.

View a map and list of Alberta’s active weather stations.

Weather Stations Map

Active Fire Weather Stations

There are 3 primary types of weather stations that report the weather variables necessary to calculate the fire danger:

Supplementary data is gathered in addition to the basic fire weather readings taken at 1 pm.

Lookout towers and automatic stations report a morning observation at 7:30 am to indicate overnight precipitation and the potential fire danger later in the day.

Automatic stations record hourly weather conditions and can be accessed at any time from headquarters.

Staffed weather stations report additional parameters such as visibility, current weather, cloud type, and maximum and minimum temperature.

All this additional information gives meteorologists and fire managers a better picture of the current weather situation.

In addition to the above station types, the weather section manages a network of 129 rain gauge stations.