The forecast is about to heat up for the Foothills.

Temperatures are expected to rise with a forecasted high of 32 degrees Friday, July 6.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Dan Kulak says the warm air is approaching the Foothills from the north and south.

"Warm air is building in from the United States and certainly we have a lot of sunshine in July here so we create our own warm air as well. The winds are blowing out of the north so we get into this pattern where we have these temperatures that are seasonal to above seasonal."

The average temperature for this time of year is 22 degrees and over the next few days the Foothills will experience temperatures 5-10 degrees above normal.

Kulak says the warm air is just one ingredient in the recipe for thunderstorms.

"You can get situations where it's too warm to produce thunderstorms. You need something to get the atmosphere boiling like water in a pot. If you've got a lot of warm air at the ground and a lot of warm air aloft, there's no ability for warm air to rise and cool air to sink if there is no cool air aloft to sink," he explains. "That's what drives these thunderstorms, that temperature difference between what's happening down low and what's happening up high."

It's a good idea to drink plenty of water, stay in the shade, wear a hat and use sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun and heat.




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