Mother Nature flips wildfire fortunes on Canada's East

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May saw the wildfires in Alberta and B.C. bring the smoke to Ontario, but another blanket of it has reached the province's skies as a result of blazes in parts of Central Canada.

Wildfires in northern Ontario and Quebec have sent upper-level smoke spiralling down to southern areas of both provinces, blanketing the skies and creating poor air quality for many. Smog warnings and special air quality statements span a good portion of northern Ontario and Quebec, as well as in Nova Scotia where the wildfires are still ongoing.

Many in the Greater Toronto Area and southwestern Ontario were greeted by smoky skies Saturday. The good news is that it will remain in the upper atmosphere, and a fresher air mass will attempt to clear it out.

However, that is not the case for regions farther north. Air quality will remain poor for a longer period of time for northeastern sections and cottage country. In addition, little rain is in store for Ontario and Quebec this weekend, elevating fire danger to extreme levels for nearly both provinces.

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The air quality index (AQI) values reached unhealthy levels for everybody or sensitive groups in many communities across northeastern and central Ontario on Saturday, including Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Parry Sound and Barrie, according to data from the World Air Quality Index project. Moderate air quality levels were found in Ontario communities as far south as Grand Bend, Brantford and Port Stanley.

Much-needed rain helps douse the flames in Nova Scotia

An unseasonable stretch of hot and dry conditions across Atlantic Canada have fuelled devastating fires in Nova Scotia. At one point, the intense wildfires had forced more than 16,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Thankfully, a pattern flip is bringing some much-needed rain and cooler temperatures to the hard-hit Maritimes this weekend. With the rain relief on Saturday, a wildfire burning northwest of Halifax is now 85 per cent contained and isn't likely to spread, according to provincial officials.

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The assist from Mother Nature is also allowing firefighters to go on the offensive against a blaze in Shelburne County that has been burning out of control for nearly a week.

In Halifax, N.S., breezy, 30-degree afternoons with low humidity will soon be replaced by days of clouds, showers, and high temperatures mired in the lower teens.

Not only will the new pattern go a long way toward helping crews bring ongoing fires under control, but the favourable conditions will make additional fires increasingly unlikely.

With files from Dennis Mersereau, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.