Publication Date May 4, 2016 | Washington Post

Omega block behind searing heat inflaming Fort McMurray wildfire

Canada
A trailer park engulfed in flames near Fort McMurray, Alta. Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Photo: Breanna Karstens-Smith, CTV News
A trailer park engulfed in flames near Fort McMurray, Alta. Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Photo: Breanna Karstens-Smith, CTV News

As the Fort McMurray wildfire rapidly spread Tuesday, temperatures surged to 90 degrees (32 Celsius), shattering the daily record of 82 degrees set May 3, 1945. Dozens of other locations in Alberta also had record high temperatures.

More records are likely to fall today. Temperatures are forecast to climb well into the 80s today at Fort McMurray, about 30 degrees warmer than normal. The average high is in the upper 50s