Air quality is still poor across much of British Columbia, but it eased up a little bit last night in the Kamloops area.

Overnight, the Air Quality Index was 5 or moderate for Kamloops, but it is expected to be as high as 8 today and 10+ or extreme tomorrow.

Across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and the Okanagan, the Air Quality Index is expected to be at 10+ today and tomorrow.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Doug Lundquist says it is expected to be smoky in the Kamloops area until Friday, but there is relief on the way this weekend.

“This system that is going to give us showers for Friday night into Saturday will reach all the way down perhaps to the California border and give some cooler, wetter, higher humidity weather to the fire zone,” he said. “I think they’re going to appreciate that, and hopefully it mutes the production of smoke a lot.”

“We can clean out there air from two directions either horizontally if we get a wind or we can bubble it up and bring down cleaner air from above. So at this time, its looking like its going to probably be both and that’s why I am really looking forward to hopefully cleaning it out.”

He says he’s hoping the rain will be able to help with the fight against the fires in the United States, which would potentially mean less smoke into British Columbia.

“I don’t think its going to put them out, so we’re not out of the woods yet, but I think we are on the improving trend across western North America and particularly for us here in B.C.,” Lundquist added.

Looking ahead, Lundquist adds the smoke could return to the B.C. Interior, depending on how long the fires burn and which way the wind blows.

For the latest on the Air Quality in B.C., go here.