Air high quality warnings issued in Sask. as thick smoke blankets province for subsequent week

Air high quality warnings are in impact all through components of Saskatchewan as thick smoke hangs within the air Monday from forest fires in Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

This has prompted air high quality warnings to be issued for western components of the province, for areas bordering Alberta, in addition to for Central areas like Saskatoon.

Some cities are anticipated to see an air high quality index of 10 or extra all through Monday and Tuesday, together with Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Heavy smoke is forecast to linger all through the week.

“Unfortunately, with the concentration of the smoke that is still coming and the direction the winds coming from, it looks like it’s probably gonna get worse before it gets better,” Dave Carlsen, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada advised CBC.

Several northern communities are equally affected by air high quality warnings, that are in place from Buffalo Narrows up into Uranium City. Buffalo Narrows and surrounding areas are anticipated to see “very high risk” situations by Tuesday.

Smoke will unfold to southern Saskatchewan

“We’re looking at all of that smoke invading a lot of the province over the next couple of days,” Carlsen stated. “It’s pretty bad smoke.”

A northerly wind stream behind a chilly entrance that is simply handed by means of the province will shift smoke towards the south.

Smoke plumes from fires within the north are set to unfold by means of a lot of southern Saskatchewan by Monday night time and air high quality warnings will possible be expanded by Tuesday.

Carlsen stated the smoke will make its manner by means of all the province, transferring towards the south. This will possible present some areas with momentary aid for twenty-four hours, earlier than smoke passes again towards the north. 

Environment Canada is advising individuals to restrict the time they spend outside and take into account suspending out of doors sports activities and actions.

“Not only can the can the smoke become a problem in the short term, but even if you’re exposed to it a little bit at a time over a few days, you can find yourself coughing or having difficulty with watery eyes,” Carlsen stated. “So just stay inside with good filtered air as much as possible.”