Calgary's outdoor attractions navigate unpredictable summer
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Calaway Park saw a promising start to the season before rainfall hit historic levels, forcing them to pivot.
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'May and June were outstanding, we really had a good start to the summer season,' said Bob Williams, the park's general manager. 'Our season pass sales exceeded our expectations, especially in the spring. So, we're optimistic about the month of August.'
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Despite the area facing 212 millimetres of rain in July, Williams said that the Stampede season was still steady and that the RV park had strong visitation from Americans and Europeans.
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The weather did have some more notable effects on the park during the month, sometimes forcing management to close certain rides — or, on one occasion, closing the park due to torrential rainfall.
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'What's interesting is, we did have a number of guests come in on rainy days, and they experienced no lineups and had the best day ever,' Williams laughed. 'So, good for them, not so great for us, because obviously we want the sun shining and we want lots of guests. So, it depends who you talk to.'
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Williams said domestic tourism is also up and that management remains optimistic about August, which is often the busiest month of the year for the park.
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New to the park this year is the Riptide Grill restaurant, which accompanies last year's new ride, Riptide Racer. The park also launched a new game called Water Wars which has proven popular.
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'It's a water balloon launching game where people get absolutely wet, and on a hot day it's absolutely packed . . . Last weekend we were slammed, it was very busy which was great,' Williams said.
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The park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 1. Beyond that, the park will launch its Halloweekends event, where guests can get dressed up and celebrate Halloween early on weekends from Sept. 6 to Oct. 13.
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The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo experienced similar challenges this summer, with July attendance down about 10 per cent compared to last year.
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'It's been kind of tough, but August has been off to a great start,' said Jamie Dorgan, chief operating officer for the zoo. 'We're feeling pretty optimistic with the long weekends coming our way this month as well. So, fingers crossed.'
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Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary's outdoor attractions navigate unpredictable summer
A wet July dampened attendance at some of Calgary's major outdoor attractions, but the summer is still shaping up to finish strong. Article content Calaway Park saw a promising start to the season before rainfall hit historic levels, forcing them to pivot. Article content Article content 'May and June were outstanding, we really had a good start to the summer season,' said Bob Williams, the park's general manager. 'Our season pass sales exceeded our expectations, especially in the spring. So, we're optimistic about the month of August.' Article content Article content Despite the area facing 212 millimetres of rain in July, Williams said that the Stampede season was still steady and that the RV park had strong visitation from Americans and Europeans. Article content Article content The weather did have some more notable effects on the park during the month, sometimes forcing management to close certain rides — or, on one occasion, closing the park due to torrential rainfall. Article content 'What's interesting is, we did have a number of guests come in on rainy days, and they experienced no lineups and had the best day ever,' Williams laughed. 'So, good for them, not so great for us, because obviously we want the sun shining and we want lots of guests. So, it depends who you talk to.' Article content Williams said domestic tourism is also up and that management remains optimistic about August, which is often the busiest month of the year for the park. Article content New to the park this year is the Riptide Grill restaurant, which accompanies last year's new ride, Riptide Racer. The park also launched a new game called Water Wars which has proven popular. Article content Article content 'It's a water balloon launching game where people get absolutely wet, and on a hot day it's absolutely packed . . . Last weekend we were slammed, it was very busy which was great,' Williams said. Article content The park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 1. Beyond that, the park will launch its Halloweekends event, where guests can get dressed up and celebrate Halloween early on weekends from Sept. 6 to Oct. 13. Article content The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo experienced similar challenges this summer, with July attendance down about 10 per cent compared to last year. Article content 'It's been kind of tough, but August has been off to a great start,' said Jamie Dorgan, chief operating officer for the zoo. 'We're feeling pretty optimistic with the long weekends coming our way this month as well. So, fingers crossed.'
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Feel sticky this summer? That's because it's been record muggy East of the Rockies
More than 70 million Americans sweated through the muggiest first two months of summer on record as climate change has noticeably dialed up the Eastern United States' humidity in recent decades, an Associated Press data analysis shows. And that meant uncomfortably warm and potentially dangerous nights in many cities the last several weeks, the National Weather Service said. Parts of 27 states and Washington, D.C., had a record amount of days that meteorologists call uncomfortable — with average daily dew points of 65 degrees Fahrenheit or higher — in June and July, according to data derived from the Copernicus Climate Service. And that's just the daily average. In much of the East, the mugginess kept rising to near tropical levels for a few humid hours. Philadelphia had 29 days, Washington had 27 days and Baltimore had 24 days where the highest dew point simmered to at least 75 degrees, which even the the weather service office in Tampa calls oppressive, according to weather service data. Dew point is a measure of moisture in the air expressed in degrees that many meteorologists call the most accurate way to describe humidity. The summer of 2025 so far has had dew points that average at least 6 degrees higher than the 1951-2020 normals in Washington, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Columbus and St. Louis, the AP calculations show. The average June and July humidity for the entire country east of the Rockies rose to more than 66 degrees, higher than any year since measurements started in 1950. 'This has been a very muggy summer. The humid heat has been way up,' said Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central. Twice this summer climate scientist and humidity expert Cameron Lee of Kent State University measured dew points of about 82 degrees at his home weather station in Ohio. That's off the various charts that the weather service uses to describe what dew points feel like. 'There are parts of the United States that are experiencing not only greater average humidity, especially in the spring and summer, but also more extreme humid days,' Lee said. He said super sticky days are now stretching out over more days and more land. High humidity doesn't allow the air to cool at night as much as it usually does, and the stickiness contributed to multiple nighttime temperature records from the Ohio Valley through the Mid-Atlantic and up and down coastal states, said Zack Taylor, forecast operations chief at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, Virginia Beach, Va., and Wilmington, N.C., all reached records for the hottest overnight lows. New York City, Columbus, Atlanta, Richmond, Knoxville, Tennessee and Concord, New Hampshire came close, he said. 'What really impacts the body is that nighttime temperature,' Taylor said. 'So if there's no cooling at night or if there's a lack of cooling it doesn't allow your body to cool off and recover from what was probably a really hot afternoon. And so when you start seeing that over several days, that can really wear out the body, especially of course if you don't have access to cooling centers or air conditioning.' An extra hot and rainy summer weather pattern is combining with climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, Woods Placky said. The area east of the Rockies has on average gained about 2.5 degrees in summer dew point since 1950, the AP analysis of Copernicus data shows. In the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and part of the 1990s, the eastern half of the country had an average dew point in the low 60s, what the weather service calls noticeable but OK. In four of the last six years that number has been near and even over the uncomfortable line of 65. 'It's huge,' Lee said of the 75-year trend. 'This is showing a massive increase over a relatively short period of time.' That seemingly small increase in average dew points really means the worst ultra-sticky days that used to happen once a year, now happen several times a summer, which is what affects people, Lee said. Higher humidity and heat feed on each other. A basic law of physics is that the atmosphere holds an extra 4% more water for every degree Fahrenheit (7% for every degree Celsius) warmer it gets, meteorologists said. For most of the summer, the Midwest and East were stuck under either incredibly hot high pressure systems, which boosted temperatures, or getting heavy and persistent rain in amounts much higher than average, Taylor said. What was mostly missing was the occasional cool front that pushes out the most oppressive heat and humidity. That finally came in August and brought relief, he said. Humidity varies by region. The West is much drier. The South gets more 65-degree dew points in the summer than the North. But that's changing. University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said uncomfortable humidity is moving further north, into places where people are less used to it. Summers now, he said, 'are not your grandparents' summers.' ___ Borenstein reported from Washington and Wildeman reported from Hartford, Connecticut. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Toronto Sun
How Canadian wildfire smoke is jeopardizing health across North America
Published Aug 09, 2025 • 6 minute read A warning sign near Squamish, British Columbia, in June. Photographer: James MacDonald/Bloomberg Photo by James MacDonald / Bloomberg (Bloomberg) — The hazy air hovering over US metropolises, including Chicago and New York, this summer is reminding Americans of just how connected they are with their northern neighbour, regardless of how much relations have deteriorated under President Donald Trump. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Canadian provinces have evacuated towns and struggled to contain the second-worst wildfire season in 30 years, while residents of some US cities have endured unhealthy air as smoke from the blazes wafts across the border. The scenes of smoke-choked cities are reminiscent of 2023, when skies turned orange over New York City amid what was Canada's worst wildfire season on record. They also come as the US West's wildfire season worsens, with blazes burning in California, Arizona and Nevada, and France deals with the fallout from its worst fires in seven decades, including smoke-damaged grapes across wine-growing regions. The cross-border smoke drifting from Canada to the US, though, poses a particularly unique geopolitical issue. With climate change increasing the odds of extreme fire weather, it could mean more seasons of flames and smoke ahead. But there are ways to reduce forests' flammability. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As of Friday, 718 active fires are burning across Canada, nearly 500 of which are out of control. Wildfire activity kicked off in Canada's prairie provinces in May with Saskatchewan and Manitoba declaring emergencies. Major fires also broke out in the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, with one blaze in the oil sands region temporarily curtailing about 350,000 barrels a day of oil production. Since then, fires have spread across the country, burning as far east as Newfoundland. In 2023, fires in provinces including Quebec were the source of much of the smoke that blanketed the eastern US. Now, fires in the Canadian prairies are the source of much of the smoke drifting into the US Midwest. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canadian fires burned a total of 7.2 million hectares (17.8 million acres) of forest as of Friday, the second-largest extent in records extending back to 1972, according to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center and Natural Resources Canada data. The 2023 season set the record with 14.6 million hectares burned and included fires so intense that they smoldered underground for the winter. An aerial view shows smoke from Canadian wildfires dimming the city's skyline on June 06, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The city has been under an air quality alert for the past two days, with vulnerable residents encouraged to limit their time outdoors. Photo by Scott Olson / Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty How does wildfire smoke affect air quality and health? Air pollution of all forms can be detrimental to health, but the tiny particles in smoke are particularly pernicious. Wildfire smoke is 10 times as toxic as regular air pollution, according to researchers at Stanford University. Soot and other small particles can lodge in crevices of organs, including lungs and arteries, and cause inflammation, according to Vin Gupta, a practicing pulmonologist and medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association. Chronic smoke exposure can contribute to asthma, cancer, dementia and even cause death. Those with preexisting health conditions, the elderly and very young are particularly at risk. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A study published in June looking at US Medicare recipients found wildfire smoke exposure led to more than 20,000 additional heart failure cases a year. Pregnant women exposed to wildfire smoke showed a higher risk of premature birth and low birth weight in newborns, according to a 2023 study focused on Australia. How do we measure air quality? Air quality is typically measured using an index that standardizes the concentration of pollution in a given location. Stations around the world continuously take samples and provide real-time updates. We know, for example, that the air quality index, or AQI, hit 161 in Duluth, Minnesota, on Wednesday as smoke pushed into the region. While an AQI below 50 is considered good air, anything above 151 is considered unhealthy and will likely have some impacts on the general public. Anything that climbs above 300 is likely to affect nearly everyone breathing the air, while readings between 101 and 150 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children and older adults. In areas where the most intense fires are burning, the AQI climbed as high as 500 on Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. State and provincial governments track air quality, as do national governments in both countries. The data used to create AQI readings comes from air monitors found in a variety of locations, ranging from schools and businesses to TV stations. Some are used to track air quality near roads or sites prone to pollution, such as petrochemical facilities. How have the fires affected international relations? Wildfire smoke is worsening relations that were already at their lowest point in decades after Trump imposed tariffs on Canada early in his term and repeatedly referred to the country as the 51st state. A chorus of Republican lawmakers from the Midwest has complained about the smoke. That includes six members of Congress who wrote a letter to Canada's ambassador to the US last month claiming a lack of active forest management was driving the 'suffocating' wildfire smoke their constituents were dealing with. State-level lawmakers have also voiced concerns. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In response, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew accused the US lawmakers of 'trivializing' the explosive blazes, while praising US firefighters who are assisting Canadian efforts to control the blazes. Are Canada's forest management practices to blame? Canada is exceedingly efficient in fire monitoring and control compared to the US, said Mark Ashton, a dean of Yale University's Forest School. But Canada's massive swaths of forested land, a sparse population and limited infrastructure mean the country is constrained in its ability to respond to all blazes. 'In the most remote, difficult to access regions, you have no choice but to monitor and let burn,' Ashton said, adding that such an approach is pretty much the same strategy used in remote areas of Alaska. Indeed, of the roughly 500 uncontrolled blazes in Canada, 305 were being monitored. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Still, the country lacks a consistent approach to assessing risk, one that guides wildfire responses, and funding for wildfire prevention, mitigation and preparedness hasn't kept up with an increasing need, researchers wrote a 2020 study. Is there anything more that can be done to prevent or limit fires? Canada has been making some changes to its approach to wildfires, including integrating Indigenous cultural burning practices and, in British Columbia, planting more broadleaf trees that don't burn as easily rather than conifers in areas where timber has been harvested near urban locations, said Stefana Dranga, a wildfire research officer at Natural Resources Canada. Canada is also borrowing techniques from the US, including the use of pre-defined strategic fire management zones, a tool for identifying land features that can stop or slow wildfires for suppression, she said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Cutting greenhouse gas pollution would also help lower the risk of explosive fires in the long term. The boreal forest stretching across northern Canada and other Arctic countries is particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures. 'The fires in the region have been amplified by changing climate that has increased the degree and length of these hot and dry periods,' Ashton said. While cutting greenhouse gas emissions to zero wouldn't immediately decrease fire risk, it would pay dividends in the decades to come. What will climate change mean for Canadian wildfires? The smoky summers are only poised to worsen in the years ahead as the globe gets hotter, according to Liam Buchart, fire weather specialist at Natural Resources Canada. 'As that warmth continues to build up in our climates, it's just making the fire season a bit more volatile.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Boreal forests sequester billions of tons of carbon. Yet as temperatures and fire risk both rise, that creates the risk that the forests go from being a carbon sink to a source of planet-warming emissions. In 2023, Canadian wildfires spewed out more carbon dioxide than the entire country of Mexico does in a year. That will have grave impacts on public health as well. 'We're girding for a reality where people will be sicker because more parts of the year will be warmer and exposure to the wildfire smoke will happen in unnatural times of the year,' Gupta said. 'It's not good for the body.'All expectations are that this is going to get a lot worse before there's any hope of it getting better.' Toronto Blue Jays Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Editorials Toronto & GTA
