Unhealthy air quality arises in parts of B.C. due to wildfire smoke
A strong ridge of high pressure over the western half of North America has fostered historic heat and extremely dry conditions across the Pacific coast in recent days. As a result of numerous wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, air quality has dropped considerably in B.C. This has led to several special air quality statements being issued in parts of the province.
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Multiple vigorous wildfires sparked in Washington, Oregon, and California have allowed for prolific amounts of smoke to billow into the atmosphere and flow northward.
The smoke is coming from several different sources. Elevated levels of fine particulate matter are due to smoke from wildfires burning in B.C. and the U.S., as well as a fire burning in Vancouver at a wood recycling facility. Additional smoke is expected to arrive stateside Sunday and Monday, further degrading air quality.
There are also fires burning in B.C. that are contributing to low-level smoke throughout the region. Wildfires burning southeast of Chilliwack and Hope, including two fires near Manning Park (Heather Lake) and Hope (Flood Falls Trail), are producing smoke that is impacting the regions.
One such fire is located southwest of Hope. This out-of-control wildfire of note is approximately 271 hectares in size. Officials have issued evacuation alerts around the blaze.
Another blaze is in northeastern B.C., approximately 50 km west of Hudson's Hope, forcing officials to issue an evacuation order for residents of the small town. The wildfire, which has burned for just under two weeks, has grown considerably in size in recent days -- now at 17,410 hectares, approximately.
As a result of the smoke blanketing the region, Vancouver will see poor air quality values on Sunday, though moderating Monday and Tuesday.
Conditions are much worse for the Interior, where the Okanagan will see unhealthy air quality on Sunday, worsening to very unhealthy levels for Monday and Tuesday.
Temperatures will remain warm across the South Coast for the next couple of days before onshore flow brings things closer to seasonal for the rest of the week. These onshore winds should also help clear out much of the smoke from the South Coast.
Thumbnail courtesy of Mitch Miller Miller, taken in Hope, B.C.
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