Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, is in for a smoky afternoon on Wednesday, with The Weather Network calling for hazy conditions from 3 p.m. through 7 p.m. The smoke coincides with the start of a warm-up that will push temperatures into the low 20s and make it feel even warmer with the humidity.
Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health Index sat at 3, or low risk, as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, and no air quality alerts are in place for the community. The low-risk reading is expected to hold through Thursday night. Still, people with breathing issues or other health concerns may want to limit their time outside while the smoke lingers.
The smoky skies are drifting down from wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. As of mid-July, 202 active fires were reported in the N.W.T. alone, covering more than 777,000 hectares. While Fort Saskatchewan is not under any formal advisory, similar smoke triggered a sweeping air quality warning for much of northern Alberta on July 20, when Edmonton’s index briefly reached 10+, the highest risk category.
After Wednesday’s smoke clears, Fort Saskatchewan can expect a string of sunny, warmer days. Thursday’s high will reach 18 C, Friday 21 C, and Saturday 23 C, with humidex values making it feel closer to 26 C. Clouds and showers return Saturday evening and linger into Sunday, offering a brief pause from the recent dry stretch.
The 2026 wildfire season continues a trend that has seen Alberta’s burned area more than double over the last two decades. The Government of Alberta reports the total area scorched jumped from 2.6 million hectares between 1995 and 2004 to 6.75 million hectares between 2015 and 2024. Residents are encouraged to check air quality readings often and adjust outdoor plans if smoke thickens.
