Abnormally hot and dry weather is set to return to Alberta today after a couple of cooler days helped calm wildfires that have forced thousands of evacuations in the province.

Record-high temperatures and tinder-dry vegetation have led to an intense, early start to wildfire season in Western Canada this year. 

Weather forecasters see no improvement in conditions at least until next week.

The wildfire activity has already caused some rail service disruption, but the impact is unlikely to have credit implications for the Canadian grain handling sector.

CN Rail had temporarily closed its Edson subdivision between Edmonton and Jasper for the weekend of May 6th due to nearby fires, but reopened the line that Monday.

Rival CPKC, in its grain handling report for the same week, hasn’t yet reported any fire-related line closures.