Parts of Canada under blanket of wildfire smoke, degraded air quality lingers
Degraded and/or unsafe air quality levels will continue across parts of Canada Monday as wildfire smoke lingers. However, the air quality will begin to improve as the week progresses, from west to east
Extensive wildfires burning on the Prairies created abysmal air quality problems for portions of the country this weekend.
Expect periods of poor air quality to persist on Monday and Tuesday as smoke continues to pose issues for some regions. In fact, Toronto, Ont., had the second-worst air quality in the world on Monday morning.
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However, gradual improvement of air quality is expected to occur in some regions, from west to east, on Monday, continuing into Tuesday and Wednesday for a good portion of Canada.
Expect reduced air quality from Toronto to Halifax on Monday
Thick smoke will continue mixing down to the surface across portions of Eastern Canada through the beginning of the new week. Vibrant sunrises and sunsets aren’t the only side-effect we’ll see from this intrusion of pollution.
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Folks with chronic health conditions should avoid spending significant time outdoors on Monday across parts of southern Ontario, southern Quebec, and the Maritimes amid reduced air quality throughout the region.
That includes forecast air quality health index (AQHI) values of 7 in Windsor, 7 in Toronto, 4 in Fredericton, and 3 in Halifax.
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In the West, the worst of the air quality on Monday will be found in Fort McMurray, Alta., where the AQHI value is forecast to be a 9. Prince Albert and Regina, Sask., will see slightly better readings of 6 and 5, respectively, and Winnipeg, Man., will see a value of 4.
A centre of high pressure setting up over Quebec will force smoke to linger across southern Ontario well into the new week, though in reduced quantities with each passing day.
Air quality will improve from west to east, beginning with northern Ontario on Monday and southern sections on Tuesday before the smoke finally eases. Atlantic Canada may not see improvement until midweek.
Header image courtesy of NOAA.
Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across Canada.