The smoke of forest fires of the grasslands caused special statements of air quality and warnings throughout the country on Saturday.
The smoke of forest fires is causing reduced visibility and poor air quality that is expected to persist on Sunday for some areas, according to Environment Canada.
The statements cover the country from eastern British Columbia and to west of Quebec, varying in severity.
Parts of the territories of the Northwest, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario are under warning warnings, where the Canada environment says that “extremely high” levels of air pollution are present.
Meanwhile, some areas in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec are under statement of air quality, where poor air quality is expected, but with a lower health risk.
Air quality warnings require that the qualification of the Air Quality Health Index is at 10 or more for at least six consecutive hours, said Serge Besner, a meteorologist of Enviedment Canada. Meanwhile, special air quality statements are issued when the deficient air quality index ratings are about seven, but less than 10.
The areas with the poorest air quality were largely contained in the northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Besner said, especially in places near Flin Flon, Man., And La Ronge, Sask.
The Territories of the Northwest also saw some of the worst air quality on Saturday, with Fort Simpson forecast to have an air quality health rate rating above 10.
Winnipeg was the only important Canadian Prairie city under a special statement of air quality for smoke on Saturday, although an online smoke prognosis of anticipated air health levels of alberta air quality greater than 10 on Sunday in the northwest of the province, including Fort McMurray.
While the poor air quality statements are expected to continue until Sunday, Besner said it does not believe that air quality will get worse than what was observed on Saturday.
“Most of the smoke is at the highest levels of the atmosphere and, because we have a high pressure system, that smoke is essentially pushed into the surface,” Besner said, adding that air quality could only get worse if the smoke is pushed faster than they expect.
The reduced quality of air can cause mild irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, while the most serious but less common symptoms include chest pain and severe cough, according to the meteorological agency.
People with the greatest risk of forest fire smoke include babies, children, pregnant people, people over 65 and any person with a disease or chronic health conditions.
Environment Canada recommends limiting time outdoors and reprogramming any activity or sport outdoors.
In Ottawa, a special declaration of air quality emerged. Although the air quality index was around the category of “low risk”, Environment Canada predicted that it could reach seven some time during the day.
The Ontario government predicted the poorest air quality conditions in North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, where the expected levels of the air quality health index were at seven or “high risk” on Saturday.
Although Toronto’s metropolitan area was mainly saved from special air quality statements on Saturday morning, Enviedment Canada included the area in its number of statements early in the afternoon.
The Ontario government expected the region to see air quality rates of around five or “moderate risk” on Sunday.
The severe climatic statements and the warning warnings skipped on Montreal, where thousands of concert attendees were expected to attend the Osheaga outdoor music festival for its second day of events on Saturday.
Outside the air quality statements, heat warnings throughout the west were great news when the long weekend began.
In Edmonton, where thousands were expected to attend outdoor events such as the Annual Heritage Festival and a CFL game between the Elks of the hometown and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, high diurnal temperatures of 29 to 34 C.
Local officials extended an extreme heat response until Monday.
The measures included connecting water stations to more than two dozen fire hydrants and making the peace officers carry water bottles for distribution to needy people.
