Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia all wrote air quality advisories in recent days. The smoke from Prairie wildfires is choking the air quality near us. Environment Canada said the warnings stretch over a million square kilometres, from eastern British Columbia to western Quebec. Today, parts of the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario are under an “extremely high” air pollution advisory.
A level 10 air quality warning is issued when the air quality health index (AQHI) reaches a maximum rating of 10+. This needs to be done for a minimum of six continuous hours. Reduced visibility and severe air quality are heavily affecting the surrounding areas. This unfortunate reality is likely to persist into Sunday in several areas. Environment Canada meteorologist Serge Besner told the CBC that conditions could be even worse if the smoke comes down quicker than expected.
There was quite a bit of smoke that was trapped in the upper atmosphere, and that’s what we’ve been seeing. Thanks to a high-pressure system, this smoke is forced down to the surface, creating extremely unhealthy air quality.
In response, they issued special air quality statements for regions reported with an AQHI value of ~7. These warnings call attention to areas that rank below 10. These declarations range from bad to worse, mirroring the increasing severity of air pollution across the country. Cities like Winnipeg are now on a special air quality statement because of the smoke.
The Ontario government has similarly predicted “very nasty” and “very high” air conditions, especially in North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Areas of British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec are currently placed under air quality advisories. This should raise red flags about chronic and excessive air pollution levels in these communities.
As the situation continues to develop, Environment Canada is advising that AQHI levels in northwestern Alberta will reach extreme levels. As soon as on Sunday, places like Fort McMurray would experience values above 10. This prediction further emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the steep human health stakes for impacted communities.
The ongoing smoke from the recent forest fires is continuing to have a devastating effect on air quality. Accordingly, Environment Canada recommends that Canadians reduce their time outdoors whenever possible. We know that poor air quality has dangerous health impacts. • This threat is particularly deadly to vulnerable populations, like children or people with pre-existing health conditions.
