Poor air quality caused by wildfires raging across the Prairies has once again shrouded a significant portion of the country in haze on Saturday. However, Environment Canada has indicated that conditions are likely to improve over the weekend.
Several provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador are currently grappling with poor air quality and decreased visibility due to the ongoing wildfires. This situation is anticipated to persist until Sunday.
Meteorologist Jean-Philippe Bégin from Environment Canada shared some positive news amidst the crisis. A low-pressure system moving through the Prairies, currently situated in northern Saskatchewan and anticipated to progress into Manitoba and northwestern Ontario by Monday, is expected to bring much-needed precipitation to areas affected by the uncontrolled forest fires.
Regrettably, the system is not likely to offer significant relief in northern Alberta, where minimal rainfall is predicted in the coming days.
On Saturday, cities such as Toronto and Montreal were flagged with a moderate to high risk on the agency’s air quality index, which rates air quality on a scale from one to ten based on its impact on health.
Southern Ontario remained under special air quality advisories or warnings on Saturday, with the situation in Quebec also being closely monitored. A weak cold front approaching eastern Quebec, including the North Shore region, is anticipated to ameliorate conditions. Improvement is expected in Montreal and southern Quebec by Sunday.
The presence of elevated levels of fine particles in the air poses a significant health risk, particularly in areas directly affected by the wildfires, cautioned Bégin. He highlighted that concentrations exceeding 100 micrograms per cubic meter were recorded in regions near the fires, with levels reaching up to 600 micrograms per cubic meter, signifying perilous air quality conditions.
In Montreal, public health officials have advised residents to keep windows shut, limit outdoor activities, and curtail non-essential travel. While the impact of poor air quality extends to the entire population, vulnerable groups such as young children, expectant mothers, the elderly, and individuals with heart or respiratory conditions are at heightened risk.
