Valley air quality bad, but not the worst ever

Smoke from wildfires make air unhealthy in Okanagan, but we coughed through worse 3 summers ago

Bad as the air quality in the Okanagan is as a result of the hundreds of wildfires burning in B.C., it could be worse. And it has been worse. The foulest day, atmospherically speaking, in Kelowna’s history was Aug. 23, 2015, when the air quality was rated 391.

To put that in perspective, any reading over 300 is considered hazardous. At that level, everyone is urged to avoid all outdoor exertion, as the poor air quality could pose a risk to all members of the public.

That particularly smoky day three years ago was caused mainly by big fires burning in the United States. The air was even dirtier that day than it was at the height of the Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park firestorm, which destroyed more than 230 Kelowna homes.

During that calamity, air quality in Kelowna never rose above 300. These type of air quality measurements, which reflect the concentrations of tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere, have been recorded in the Okanagan for more than 20 years.

On Tuesday afternoon, the air quality in Kelowna was 156, a value considered to be unhealthy. People with respiratory problems and children were urged by health authorities to limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

For today, Kelowna’s air quality is predicted to be in the 200-300 range, and some forecasts suggest even worse conditions on Thursday.

The Weather Network — using its 10point scale — forecast Penticton’s air quality at 8 today and 7 on Thursday, suggesting there’s a high risk of adverse health affects from the smoke.