The general public is being asked to consider reducing strenuous outdoor activities tonight as Environment Canada issues a Special Air Quality Statement for the entire province of Saskatchewan Tuesday night for moderate health risk from forest fire smoke.
Smoke from forest fires north of Saskatchewan continues to spread over the province.
The agency says elevated particulate matter readings from air quality sensors across the province is giving reduced air quality this evening, which is expected to continue into Wednesday morning.
Environment Canada states, “Children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems should take care. People in good health should consider reducing strenuous activities outdoors.”
The smoke is forecast to move eastward and become less dense throughout the day tomorrow with air quality improving back to normal levels at that time.
If you were outside anytime over the past 24 hours, you may have noticed a thick haze over Saskatoon and parts of west-central Saskatchewan.
Smoke has wafted into the region from the Northwest Territories where 118 fires are burning.
118 Fires Burning in the Northwest Territories Tuesday, July 8, 2014.
Courtesy nwtfire.com
A northerly flow through the day Tuesday enhanced what was already a hazy situation thanks to a northwesterly flow in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere that started bringing smoke into the area Monday night.
As the sun set Monday night, a neon pink sun was viewed by many across the city.
Lots of haze outside, but it does give for a very interesting view of the sun through out towercam! #yxe #SkyTracker http://t.co/3Lx936Fts4— Peter Quinlan (@PQuinlanGlobal) July 08, 2014
By late-afternoon Tuesday, air quality in Saskatoon was reduced to a level 4 on the Air Quality Health Index, which is considered to be a “Moderate Risk”.
Air quality is expected to continue worsening Tuesday night, dropping to a 5 on the AQHI index scale.
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Special Air Quality Statement for:
City of Saskatoon
City of Regina
Martensville – Warman – Rosthern – Delisle – Wakaw
Prince Albert – Shellbrook – Spiritwood – Duck Lake
Melfort – Tisdale – Nipawin – Carrot River
Humboldt – Wynyard – Wadena – Lanigan – Foam Lake
Meadow Lake – Big River – Green Lake – Pierceland
Île à la Crosse – Buffalo Narrows – Beauval
La Ronge – Prince Albert National Park – Narrow Hills P.P.
Pelican Narrows – Cumberland House – Creighton
Uranium City – Camsell Portage
Fond-du-Lac – Stony Rapids
La Loche – Clearwater River Provincial Park – Cluff Lake
Cree Lake – Key Lake
Wollaston Lake – Collins Bay
Southend – Brabant Lake – Kinoosao
Fort Qu’Appelle – Indian Head – Lumsden – Pilot Butte
Yorkton – Melville – Esterhazy
Hudson Bay – Porcupine Plain
Kamsack – Canora – Preeceville
Leader – Gull Lake
Swift Current – Herbert – Cabri – Kyle – Lucky Lake
Shaunavon – Maple Creek – Val Marie – Cypress Hills
Moose Jaw – Pense – Central Butte – Craik
Assiniboia – Gravelbourg – Coronach
Estevan – Weyburn – Radville – Milestone
Moosomin – Grenfell – Kipling – Wawota
Carlyle – Oxbow – Carnduff – Bienfait – Stoughton
Kamsack – Canora – Preeceville
Outlook – Watrous – Hanley – Imperial – Dinsmore
The Battlefords – Unity – Maidstone – St. Walburg
Kindersley – Rosetown – Biggar – Wilkie – Macklin