Smog warning remains in effect for Montreal

A smog warning remains in effect for Montreal and surrounding areas due to ongoing forest fires – but this time, what’s affecting southern Quebec is due to forest fires in B.C. It seems they are making their way into the U.S. and winds are pushing that smoke towards Quebec. Northern parts of the province are being affected by ongoing forest fires in Quebec – there are 23 active wildfires.

Environment Canada issued a smog warning Monday morning, saying high concentrations of fine particulates are expected and will result in poor air quality.

“It’s coming from a long way,” says Peter Kimbell of Environment Canada, “this time it’s actually coming from northern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia and northwest territory.”

At noon Monday, Montreal was ranked 10th on IQ Air’s list of major cities around the world with poor air quality. The site keeps tracks of air quality in cities around the world.

But by Tuesday morning 10 a.m., the city sat at number 17, by 11:40 a.m. at number nine, and at 2:25 p.m. sitting in sixth spot.

Environment Canada says the poor air quality could persist until Wednesday.

For those visiting Montreal, the air quality in the city, something they couldn’t ignore.

“When I landed this morning, even in the morning like 6 a.m. you could actually like some places were blurred out completely,” says Abhiroop Yerramilli visiting from Halifax.

For Kamesh Yerramilli, who drove from New Jersey, he says, “it was very clear up to the border, and then I started noticing it…I had my air from outside coming in, and I felt like, you know, something in the throat you feel you are inhaling something that probably is not agreeing with the health.”

And for Montrealers it’s something they’re getting used to, “We’re not seeing things clearly buildings and the bridge, the river, even across the cross, the St Lawrence, we’re not seeing the mountains and as clearly as we used to see them, everything is a bit hazy,” says Charles Antoine Roi.

A reminder that smog especially affects asthmatic children and people with respiratory ailments or heart disease. It’s recommended these individuals avoid intense physical activity outdoors until the smog warning is lifted.

“The people that are most vulnerable are, as always, the very young, the very old and the people who have cardiovascular illnesses,” says Kimbell.

There are currently close to 400 active fires in British Columbia, and the province set a new record for total area burned in a year.

Monday, B.C.’s Coroners Service issued a public safety bulletin warning following the death of a nine-year-old boy due to a severe asthma attack made worse by wildfire smoke.

“If you do have an air filter or a filtration system via your air conditioning in some way, do that. Because the most important thing is really to filter the smoke particles out of the air so that you don’t breathe them in,” says Epidemiologist & Cardiologist Christopher Labos.

According to Forest Fire Protection agency, in Northern Quebec, there are currently 79 fires burning, 11 of which are still considered out of control.

“If you are going to be outside for an extended period of time because you have to work outside…then really the most important thing is to wear a mask, because the mask is going to prevent you from breathing in those air particles,” Labos added.

Cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers on Tuesday, with a risk of thunderstorms. High of 25, but 30 with the humidex.

Back to sunshine on Wednesday and 27 degrees, feeling more like 31..

More sun on Thursday and temperatures of 29 degrees.

Showers moving back on Friday with a high of 23 as construction holidays begin for many in Quebec.

Possible rain on Saturday and 21 degrees.

Sun and clouds for Sunday and 28.