Denver's Record Less Than Heat Fueling Canadian Fire

By Chris Spears

DENVER (CBS4) - It's hard to believe but temperatures on Wednesday afternoon in parts of central Canada were warmer than today's record high of 88 degrees in Denver.

The record heat was caused by a combination of the jet stream transporting warm air northward and by localized wind patterns in the Canadian Rockies.

The unusually warm weather was fueling a massive wildfire that developed Sunday burning entire neighborhoods in Fort McMurray, Alberta, where nearly 90,000 residents were ordered to evacuate.

Fort McMurray is located near the 57th parallel north, just 9 degrees south of the Arctic Circle.

RELATED: Positive Wildfire Outlook Following Big Snow Season

According to a website ran by the Canadian Government the normal high for this time of year in Fort McMurray should be right around 60 degrees.

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio, connect with him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.