Wildfire smoke and intense heat infiltrates Western Canada
Smoke from Canadian and U.S. wildfires has prompted special air quality statements across portions of B.C. and southern Alberta
Poor air quality continues to be a health concern in portions of Western Canada this weekend as a handful of new wildfires burn across Washington state and parts of B.C.
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There have been 30 new fires in the past two days in B.C. Smoke impacts are increasing across portions of the southern Interior due to local fires and long-range transport from blazes south of the border. In Washington state, three large wildfires are burning between Seattle and Spokane.
The smoke plumes have been spotted from space with satellite imagery.
So far this year, B.C. has had more than 1,400 wildfires.
"Wildfire activity has increased significantly to begin the month of September, not only here in B.C., but also south of the border, particularly in Washington state," said Jessie Uppal, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
Thanks to the winds, smoke is drifting over the Rockies and into Alberta, as well, causing poor air quality and reduced visibility at times in parts of the southern end of the province. This is creating elevated values of fine particulate matter. Special air quality statements are in place.
In addition to the smoke, a heat dome stationed over the West continues to trap some of the hottest temperatures in North America as it slowly slides over the Canadian Prairies this weekend.
Daytime highs will climb to the low- to mid-30s in the western Prairies and will likely challenge all-time September heat records for some areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan where there are heat warnings in place.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest updates on the West heat and wildfire smoke.
