Impressive amount of Canadian wildfire smoke wrapped up in a UK storm
Special air quality statements span Newfoundland as drifting Canadian wildfire smoke spreads across the region. That same smoke is being wrapped up into a powerful UK storm
Wildfire smoke has been swept across the country, and is now draped over Atlantic Canada, prompting widespread special air quality statements for the majority of Newfoundland. The statement is expected to remain in effect for the next couple of days.
"Plumes of smoke from distant wildfires are expected to continue drifting over the island for the remainder of this week," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the statement. "Local air quality will be reduced at times where smoke descends to the surface."
Associated haze will cause some reductions to visibility as well, and will give the sun a reddish appearance, ECCC warns.
Impressive amount of Canadian wildfire smoke wrapped up in Storm Agnes
Storm Agnes -- named by the UK Met Office -- is currently churning in the Atlantic Ocean and is set to bring rain and strong winds across a large portion of the United Kingdom through Thursday.
What is most interesting is that Agnes has pulled in and mixed copious amounts of Canadian wildfire smoke into the system as it traverses the Atlantic Ocean. This is the same smoke that is impacting Newfoundland.
The unprecedented and relentless wildfires in B.C., Alberta, and N.W.T. mean record amounts of smoke billowing across Canada, even reaching as far as Greenland.
"The upper-level winds have circulated smoke around a stout ridge of high pressure centred near Hudson Bay, and that smoke descended to the surface across Newfoundland on Tuesday," says Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
MUST SEE: From B.C. to Greenland: Unprecedented wildfires blanket Canada in smoke
Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone's health even at low concentrations.
"People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke," says ECCC. "Speak with your health care provider about developing a management plan for wildfire smoke events and maintaining a supply of necessary medications at home and always carrying these medications with you during wildfire season."
SEE ALSO: Does breathing in wildfire smoke mean lung issues for life?
