Yukon's record breaking temperatures enter second week

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-s-record-breaking-temperatures-enter-second-week-1.3085654

Yukon's hot, dry weather continues to shatters records across the territory as a heat wave enters its second week, keeping fire crews on high alert.

David Millar, a retired meteorologist based in Whitehorse, says temperatures broke records in seven communities Saturday and he expects further records to be set Sunday.

Some records had been in place for more than half a century before temperatures climbed Saturday.

Millar says Whitehorse reached 27.4C (81.32F), eclipsing the old record 24.4 C from 1960.

•••••

The heat wave is also contributing to extreme fire danger in most of the territory. There are 31 wildfires burning across Yukon. The only areas where fire danger is considered moderate are Old Crow and Teslin.

•••••

Across the territory, wildfires have burned 1,300 hectares (3212 acres) so far this year.

•••••

tags: extreme weather,