It appears we’ll be stuck with this smoke in Kamloops for at least a couple more days this week.
Gail Roth, an Air Quality Meteorologist with the Ministry of Environment, says the weather pattern as it stands is not cooperating.
“There’s a very weak high pressure ridge essentially over the Kamloops and the Central Interior,” she said. “And associated with that is not too windy conditions and the smoke that was brought in and doesn’t really have much mechanism to be cleared out of the valley.”
Roth says while conditions can change quickly, people should expect to see the smoky skies until at least Thursday.
“We’re staying a bit of change overall starting Thursday, but the confidence is low when it comes to smoke forecasting going out that far,” Roth added. “So for now, we’re not being too certain about what to expect Thursday.”
The smoke is a result of massive wildfires burning in the western United States. The Air Quality Health Index for Kamloops is currently 10+, which means a very high health risk for people. It is expected to be at 8 tomorrow – or a high health risk.
“What’s happening is, the flow aloft is gone more west-southwest and at the surface its gone west. So we’ll probably bring in some clearer air from around Williams Lake, Clinton and north there for the next two days and then the flow goes south or south-east again and it might come back in,” Environment Canada Meteorologist Doug Lundquist said.
“[Kamloops] is at the northern edge so it is really difficult to forecast the kind of wiggling edge, but it could easily get worse again once it gets better on Wednesday and Thursday. Then there’s another front for late Friday into Saturday that is going to really take us out of the woods from this.”
The Medical Health Officer for the Kamloops area says wearing a mask may be helpful when going outside during these smokey conditions.
Dr. Carol Fenton says respirators would definitely be good in the current conditions, but non-medical masks can be helpful as well.
“So if it is a really good mask that has a good seal all the way around, it’s not gaping from your face, it’s not hanging from your ear and it actually is thick enough to actually filter the air, it will help with the smoke,” she said.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, too shared a similar sentiment, while urging people to avoid outdoor exercise for as long as it is smoky, and to limit the intensity of indoor exercise as well.
Roth meanwhile notes the current air quality is similar to what we experienced during the 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons in the province.
For more information on reducing the health risk caused by smoky conditions, go to airhealth.ca.
– With files from Jeff Andreas and Kirk Fraser
