Air quality in Edmonton plummets once again, concerns grow across Canada
Air quality raises health concerns across parts of Western Canada. Listen to your body and if you experience symptoms, reduce or stop outdoor activities
A recent burst in wildfires poured smoke from coast-to-coast across Canadian skies this week.
Widespread air quality advisories covered much of Alberta early Thursday, warning of very poor air quality and reduced visibility.
CANADA'S WILDFIRES: Visit The Weather Network's wildfire hub to keep up with the latest on the active start to wildfire season across Canada.
"Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour," said Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the advisory.
Across British Columbia, poor low level air quality is likely on both Thursday and Friday, especially in the north, where out of control wildfires persist.
Air quality in the interior should improve, as a wet system and unsettled pattern develops heading into the weekend.
FORECAST: First substantial rain in weeks takes aim at B.C. for this weekend
Concerns are also growing for poor low level air quality as early as Thursday afternoon in places like Saskatoon and Regina, Sask., as well as Dauphin and Brandon, Man.
"Winds from the northwest will continue to blow smoke from a severe fire in central Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories Thursday and Friday," warns Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. "By Saturday morning, low level smoke will return to Edmonton as the wind direction shifts from the southeast."
This can cause health complications especially to those more at risk.
"People more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke such as seniors, pregnant women and pregnant people, people who smoke, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise and people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, should avoid strenuous activities outdoors," says ECCC. "Listen to your body and if you experience symptoms, reduce or stop outdoor activities."
Across Eastern Canada, the wildfire smoke is much more elevated, and not a health concern. Hazy skies however, can be expected in Quebec and Atlantic Canada this weekend. Skies may get particularly smoky over the Gaspé Peninsula, and parts of Newfoundland on Saturday.
A rainy system in Ontario on the other hand will help to guard the region from the upper level smoke.
According to ECCC, symptoms from poor air quality can include milder and more common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as serious but less common symptoms such as chest pains or severe cough.
