Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia and the United States will bring hazy skies and poor air quality to Pitt Meadows over the next several days, according to The Weather Network. The smoke is expected to linger through the middle of the week, reducing visibility and making outdoor activities potentially risky for some residents.
The Weather Network’s current conditions show smoke in Pitt Meadows causing reduced air quality, with temperatures reaching 29°C. The smoke is being pushed into the area by high pressure over the Interior and a weak trough along the coast, which funnels air through the Fraser River channel and into Metro Vancouver communities.
Most of the smoke is coming from the Ainslie Creek wildfire in the Fraser Canyon, discovered on July 4, which has now burned almost 17,000 hectares. The nearby Brunswick Creek fire has added to the problem, and together the fire complex has scorched more than 20,000 hectares near Boston Bar. Smoke is also drifting in from wildfires in the United States, adding to the haze across southern B.C.
There are more than 100 active wildfires burning across the province, and since July 8 there has been a five-fold increase in the amount of land burned due to ongoing drought. Air quality could move into the moderate risk range through the week depending on how much smoke gathers at ground level.
Anyone with breathing problems or other respiratory conditions should keep an eye on local air quality updates and limit time spent outdoors when smoke is thickest.
