Air-quality warning issued as smoke shrouds Calgary
An air-quality advisory is in place in Calgary with smoke from forest fires expected to worsen over the next two days. But relief is on the way with rain and cooler air by the weekend — as temperatures nosedive from 37 C on Friday to 13 C by Saturday.
“There are still some very active fires in B.C., so things will get worse than last week in terms of smoke as it moves into the Prairies,” said Brian Proctor, meteorologist with Environment Canada, adding that smoke will combine with a continued heat warning Thursday and Friday, with record-breaking forecast highs of 35 C and 37 C.
But the heat and smoke should be gone by Saturday night as a cold front carries rain into the area, bringing temperatures as low as 13 C into the evening and up to 10 mm of rain beginning around noon.
“If you’re going to golf on Saturday, you should do it early,” Proctor added.
“The cooling off is significant, something we haven’t seen in a while in Calgary . . . but the precipitation should be enough to move the smoke out.”
But as we await relief on the weekend, officials are advising anyone with respiratory issues to stay inside Thursday and Friday, with smoke bringing abnormally high levels of fine particulate matter.
Proctor said Calgary usually hovers between 10 to 20 fine particles in 2.5 aerodynamic diameters on a clear day, but Environment Canada measured levels as high as 50 this week, with concerns it could get higher.
“When we are at 50, we are concerned mainly for those people with compromised immunity,” Proctor said.
“But when we reach about 80 or higher, that is impacting the entire population.”
Alberta Health Services has issued a precautionary air-quality advisory for the entire province because of smoke from forest fires, asking residents and visitors to take precautions against potential health concerns associated with smoky air conditions.
Individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions may notice a worsening of symptoms and are advised to minimize their time outdoors and remain indoors with windows, doors and air-circulation fans and vents closed.
AHS says even healthy individuals may experience temporary irritation of eyes and throat, and possibly shortness of breath.