The special air quality statement issued last week remains in effect, with a hazy blanket of smoke still hovering over the prairies.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Sarah Hoffman, last week's smoke was primarily from British Columbia, and while we're still seeing some of that, the smoke we're currently seeing is from the east.

"What we're experiencing at the surface, those elevated AQHI values, the poor air quality, the reason for the special air quality statements, what you're smelling, what's reducing visibility, that's due to the wildfire smoke from Northern Saskatchewan."

AQHI refers to the 'Air Quality Health Index,' which is a number assigned to air quality in a given region.

It can be impacted by many factors, including the presence of things like nitrogen oxide, ozone, and wildfire smoke.

The Calgary area is currently sitting at an AQHI of 7-10, which is considered high risk.

Hoffman says that the air quality is hazardous for everyone, even if you're not suffering from a respiratory illness.

"You are still potentially going to be affected by the poor air quality. It's suggested you reschedule outdoor events, which it sounds like has happened over the weekend. Really avoid strenuous activity outdoors. Anything that would make you breathe heavily and deeper like a jog or exercise or some type of laborious work, you could develop like a cough, a sore throat, headache. You can become affected by the air quality, that's how poor it is."

Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing when it will improve.

According to Hoffman, a system forming in the next day or two may give us a brief reprieve, but it won't last for long.

It seems we're surrounded by wildfires, and a change in wind direction would just blow in smoke from another neighbouring province or state.

"Because we have such a significant fire year ongoing pretty well in North America, we have a very active season in B.C., very active in Northern Saskatchewan, incredibly active in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. If you go down to the United States, there's portions of Montana, California. There are so many sources of wildfire smoke that I think it would take a drastic improvement in the wildfire season to see the smoke 100 per cent not come back this summer," says Hoffman.

Masks can help if you're hoping to spend some time outside without breathing in too much smoke, but you'll need an N95 or KN95 mask. Cloth masks alone won't be of use. However, if your mask has a compartment for a filter, a PM2.5 filter will be effective.

These fires have been bolstered by the heat and consequent dry conditions, something that's likely to continue, says Hoffman.

"As our climate continues to change, increased frequency in significant wildfire seasons in smoke is something we should come to expect. As our climate continues to change, we expect more and more significant wildfire seasons and therefore more and more significant wildfire smoke in the summer."

 

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