NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN — Between 10,000 and 15,000 people in Saskatchewan have been forced from their homes because of wildfires. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says what we need most is rain. And lots of it.
There is rain forecast for this weekend, but will it amount to much? It’s not the days-long downpour needed.
La Ronge, which is under evacuation due to the uncontained Pisew fire, is expected to have rain beginning Saturday afternoon, but ending near midnight. Sadly, clear skies are forecast for Sunday, with winds gusting to 50 km/h.
Creighton and Denare Beach, threatened by the both the Club fire and the Wolf fire, as well as Pelican Narrows, threatened by the Pelican2 fire, are expecting a 30 per cent chance of rain Saturday and Sunday, and 60 per cent chance again on Tuesday, but tonight’s rain is also expected to be accompanied by lightning, which can result in more fire starts. And the wind continues to blow.
Candle Lake, which is under a pre-evacuation alert due to the now one-month-old Shoe fire, expects showers today and tonight, but then the skies clear and the wind is expected to gust up to 70 km/h.
Choiceland and Smeaton, also in the area of the Shoe fire, expect showers today, tonight and Sunday, with winds gusting to 70 km/h. Lightning is expected this evening.
The Ditch fire, threatening Weyakwin, Molonosa Lake, Ramsey Bay and Timber Bay may should see rain Saturday and Saturday night, but Sunday is expected to be clear. Winds are forecast to gust up to 50 km/h.
